Cloverdale man struck by vehicle after I-70 accident in Morgan County

Monday, August 30, 2021

MONROVIA -- A 50-year-old Cloverdale man was struck by a car Sunday while crossing Interstate 70 following a three-vehicle collision.

At approximately 9 p.m. Sunday, troopers from the Indiana State Police Putnamville, Bloomington and Indianapolis Districts along with deputies from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department responded to a multiple-vehicle crash at the 56-mile marker of I-70 in southwestern Morgan County that included a pedestrian being struck and seriously injured.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Michael Tummers revealed that a 2013 Ford passenger car, driven by Robert E. Bowles, 50, Cloverdale, was westbound on I-70, 15 miles east of Cloverdale. Bowles was in the right lane when he attempted to change lanes due to slower traffic, made contact with a 2005 Jeep that was in the left lane.

That collision caused the Jeep to leave the roadway and come to rest in the grassy median. The Ford passenger car then collided with a 2018 Honda and both vehicles came to rest on the right shoulder of I -70.

Early reports show that Bowles then exited his vehicle and began checking on the other drivers by running across the interstate. Upon crossing the travel lanes of the roadway, Bowles was then struck by a fourth vehicle, a 2006 Kia.

Deputies of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department initially arrived and were able to apply a tourniquet to Bowles’s arm to prevent blood loss due to the severe injuries as a result of the collision.

Once troopers arrived at the scene, they began shutting down the traffic on I-70 to coordinate with Bowles being flown by emergency helicopter to an Indianapolis area hospital for treatment.

As the investigation into the crash continued, authorities believe Bowles may have been impaired due to his driving behavior, evidence at the scene and erratic actions before being struck.

All lanes of I-70 were temporarily closed for the investigation.

The status of Bowles was unknown at presstime and the crash is still under investigation as troopers perform the crash reconstruction.

Trooper Tummers was assisted by Troopers Hans Nowak, Colton Maynor, Daniel Organ and Athan Lamson from the Putnamville District, Troopers Bill Lux of the Bloomington District and Troopers Ty Mays and Brandon Gray from the Indianapolis District.

Sgt. Danielle Elwood-Henderson from GHQ and Trooper Matt Holley from the Versailles District assisted with crash reconstruction.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: