Full Notification

Columbus – A moving vehicle traveling north on I-65 sustained damage after it was struck by objects discarded from an overpass in Columbus.

On July 20, 2015 around 3:30 AM, Indiana State Police Trooper Korry Clark was on regular patrol on I-65 near the 67mm when he noticed a 2014 Freightliner van stopped in the emergency lane. Trooper Clark went up to check on the driver, Carolee Harless 50, who stated her vehicle was struck by eggs or rocks as she went under the overpass (CR 200 South) back there. Harless further stated that she saw three boys throwing the objects and a dark colored passenger car on the overpass. Harless stated that whatever it was they threw damaged her van. Harless stated she is not injured, but it scared her nearly to death.

Trooper Clark radioed this information to Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies who then went to canvass the area. Trooper Clark joined Deputy Adam Warner in canvassing the area of the overpass on CR 200 South. Deputy Warner observed a gray Toyota pull into the driveway of a residence on Sunflower Court and several subjects exit the car and hurriedly run towards the back of the residence. The occupants failed to turn off the parking lights of the car. The officers made contact with an adult at the residence. Further investigation determined that police detained five teen-aged males from Columbus who are believed to have some involvement in this incident and possibly other mischief on the CR 350 South overpass of I-65. The teen-agers were left in the custody of the adult resident on Sunflower Court. Trooper Clark is completing a report and will forward his findings on to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office for review.

The Indiana State Police would like to use this opportunity to advise motorists to exercise diligence, as Carolee Harless did during this incident, when traveling under an overpass! OVERPASS MISCHIEF is a very SERIOUS OFFENSE and when committed could result in serious bodily INJURY (Level 5 Felony) or even DEATH (Level 4 Felony)!

This incident came to a successful conclusion through the collective work of the Bartholomew County Sheriff Department and Indiana State Police.