Two dead after tree falls on vehicle Friday evening

Firefighters tend to a vehicle that was crushed by a tree on County Road 500 North Friday evening. Two occupants were declared dead at the scene.

Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

BAINBRIDGE — Two are dead after a large tree fell on their vehicle while traveling on County Road 500 North Friday evening.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County EMS and firefighters from the Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched at about 7:20 p.m. for a tree on a vehicle. They arrived to find the vehicle crushed by a 65-foot-tall ash tree.

Sgt. Riley Houghton provided to the Banner Graphic that three adults and two juveniles were traveling eastbound when the tree suddenly fell onto their vehicle. The wind was gusting up to 35 mph at the time of the impact.

Rick Miles Sr., 65, and Brooke Miles, 46, both of Roachdale, were declared dead at the scene by EMS personnel. The other adult occupant, Rick Miles Jr., also of Roachdale, was extricated by the firefighters and transported to Hendricks Regional Health in Danville in critical condition.

The two juveniles were able to exit the vehicle and were not critically injured. They were transported to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis to be checked out and released.

Deputy Coroner Todd Zeiner told the Banner Graphic that no autopsies were performed on the deceased.