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Most-read stories for 2019 focused on crime, accidents, tragedy
Tragedy, crime and accident stories dominated the most-read list on the Banner Graphic website for 2019.
The most-read story of the year was a very recent one -- Sunday morning’s fatal accident on Interstate 70 involving an Arizona couple’s Tesla running into the rear of a Cloverdale fire truck.
The accident story had drawn 9,364 pageviews as of noon Monday.
Prior to that story being posted on Sunday, it appeared as though another fatal accident story would be the most-read for 2019. That involved the Feb. 2 accident on U.S. 40 at State Road 75 that fatally injured Suzanne Anderson, 71, Greencastle. It prompted 8,789 pageviews.
That U.S. 40 fatality occurred the same day as the tragic incident on the ice at Heritage Lake that claimed the life of UTV rider, Brett Crowder, 48, Coatesville. The Heritage Lake tragedy was the 19th-most read story of the year and was viewed 3,685 times.
Meanwhile, the Oct. 19 fire at Chiyoda was third with 7,800 pageviews, and an ex-student being arrested at Cloverdale High School with a gun was fourth at 7,329 views.
The fifth-most read story of the year was the tragic disappearance of Greencastle native Patrick Baumann on a mountain-climbing expedition in Mongolia. It was viewed by 6,553 readers.
Only two stories among the top 25 did not involve tragedy or crime or an accident of some sort. No. 7 for the year was a story in which Duke Energy announced bill management plans for its customers. It was released last January when residents’ electric bills were likely the highest. The Duke story drew 5,171 pageviews.
The only other non-tragedy or crime story was the Feb. 26 DePauw University announcement that it was laying off 56 employees. That story, with 3,498 pageviews, came in 20th for the year on our website.
Two additional December 2019 stories landed in the top 15.
At No. 6 was the arrest of Kaiglynn Harvey, 19, Greencastle, on six charges following a traffic accident. The Dec. 23 story was viewed 6,176 times. Meanwhile, at No. 15 was the Dec. 27 story seeking help in locating a missing Greencastle man, Darren Huff. It was viewed 4,081 times.
The most-read stories on the Banner Graphic website for 2019, were (those included had at least 3,000 pageviews):
1. Driver, passenger seriously injured after rear-ending Cloverdale fire truck (12/29/19), 9,364 pageviews.
2. Driver killed in crash with Walmart semi on U.S. 40 near State Road 75 (2/2/19), 8,789 pageviews.
3. Fire extinguished at Chiyoda (10/21/19), 7,800 pageviews.
4. Former student in custody for possessing gun at Cloverdale High School (9/24/19), 7,329 pageviews.
5. Greencastle native missing on mountain-climbing excursion in Mongolia (10/8/19), 6,553 pageviews.
6. Greencastle woman, 19, facing six charges after Sunday crash (12/23/19), 6,176 pageviews.
7. Duke Energy offers customers bill management plans (1/18/19), 5,171 pageviews.
8. Greencastle woman, two children injured in crash with semi north of Cloverdale (5/2/19), 5,112 pageviews.
9. Poland man dead, wife critically injured in early-morning crash (2/23/19), 5,056 pageviews.
10. Greencastle man faces child molesting charge (3/8/19), 4,955 pageviews.
11. Cloverdale man dies after rolling Jeep (10/9/19), 4,234 pageviews.
12. Domestic dispute escalates to gunshot, attempted murder charge (8/18/19), 4,200 pageviews.
13. Admitted burglar gets 12 years for break-ins at Heritage Lake (3/8/19), 4,174 pageviews.
14. One injured in three-vehicle wreck on U.S. 231 (7/5/19), 4,118 pageviews.
15. Local man reported missing since last weekend (12/27/19), 4,081pageviews.
16. Driver killed in early-morning crash on SR 42 (3/31/19), 3,782 pageviews.
17. Woman flees as cop hangs from SUV (2/21/19), 3,775 pageviews.
18. Woman airlifted, three others injured, in Waterworks Hill crash (2/18/19), 3,696 views.
19. One dead, one escapes major injury as UTVs go through ice at Heritage Lake (2/2/19), 3,685 pageviews.
20. DePauw University to lay off 56 current employees (2/26/19), 3,498 pageviews.
21. Rollover shuts down section of SR 240 (11/8/19), 3,316 pageviews.
22. One arrested after wild apartment complex incident (4/23/19), 3,301 pageviews.
23. Brazil man dies in Putnam motorcycle crash (8/25/19), 3,230 pageviews.
24. Accident on U.S. 40 claims life of Clayton woman (4/23/19), 3,196 pageviews.
25. Greencastle man killed in I-70 snowplow accident (2/1/19), 3,107 pageviews.