Driver charged after crashing vehicle by going around wreck

LIMEDALE -- A 33-year-old Tennessee man is facing four criminal charges after crashing his vehicle while driving through yards, ditches and a cornfield along Manhattan Road in an incident southwest of Greencastle Friday night.

Bill C. Clodfelter, Gallatin, Tenn., is facing charges of driving while intoxicated while endangering a person less than 18 years old, a Level 6 felony; driving with a schedule I or II controlled substance in his body, a Class C misdemeanor; neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony; and resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.

His passenger, Amelia Raine Rutherford, 32, Gallatin, Tenn., is facing a single charge, neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony.

Their arrests at 9:24 p.m. came at the culmination of a wild incident in which witnesses said Clodfelter drove up on a vehicle recovery scene, became irate that the road was unpassable and was yelling and screaming at wrecker personnel, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Robert Soilleux’s report stated. Two small children were also in the vehicle the entire time.

The road was temporarily closed due to a trash truck becoming stuck in a ditch along Manhattan Road.

Authorities say Clodfelter, after revving his engine several times, deliberately drove a 2012 Subaru Outback through several yards in an ill-fated attempt to gain access to the closed roadway.

The vehicle continued south, ramping a ditch and plowing through a cornfield before re-entering the roadway. The vehicle continued southbound on Manhattan Road, where it was witnessed driving into a ditch and yard in front of 3003 S. CR 300 West. The Subaru was next seen driving through the yard at 7320 S. CR 445 West before going westbound on U.S. 40.

Once on U.S. 40, the vehicle reportedly alternated between driving westbound in the eastbound lanes and driving in the center median before finally coming to rest after getting stuck in the mud.

Clodfelter, who police said appeared to be highly intoxicated on drugs, reportedly told authorities his car was not damaged and that he did not get into a crash. He said he was trying to get away from a man with a gun.

Police originally thought Clodfelter was driving naked but it turned out he was shirtless but had on pants which were down around his ankles.

Deputy Soilleux reported that “a trail of tire marks in yards and ditches could be seen leading to where the vehicle finally came to rest in the center median at 4847 W. U.S. 40.

After first going to Putnam County Hospital to have his blood drawn, Clodfelter and Rutherford were taken to Putnam County Jail, while the Department of Child Services took custody of the children.

In addition to the criminal charges, Clodfelter was cited for driving the wrong way on a one-way road, unsafe lane movement, driving left of center, child restraint violations and a safety belt violation.

Numerous owners sustained landscape damage, ruts, marks in the yard, uprooted grass and more. Among them were Archibald and Anthony LLC, Mary Garl and Cynthia Adamson, Clint and Shelly Witt, the Indiana Department of Transportation (on a state-owned vehicle), Jack and Jackie Scanland and Gordon Curtis.