Tipton County - Today at approximately 3:33 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single vehicle crash near 2120 East Tipton County Road 100 South, in which two Tipton, IN teens were injured.
The preliminary crash investigation by Senior Trooper Josh Tarrh revealed that Wesley Gruell, 18, Tipton, IN was driving a 2006 Buick Lacrosse westbound on County Road 100 South. For an undetermined reason, the Buick slid out of control and traveled into a field on the south side of the road. The vehicle rolled causing the exhaust to be torn off. The hot exhaust caused the field to catch on fire. It was extinguished by the Cicero Fire Department. Neither Gruell nor his passenger, Nicholas Barnard, 19, Tipton, IN were burned.
Both teens were transported from the crash scene to a Tipton hospital. They were then flown by medical helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Even though they were wearing seat belts, both teens sustained serious head injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation, but at this time neither the use of alcohol nor narcotics is suspected as having contributed to this crash. Excessive speed is believed to be a contributing factor.
Senior Trooper Tarrh was assisted at the crash scene by Trooper Michael Biggs, Tipton County Deputy Will Cline, the Windfall Town Marshall’s Office, the Cicero Volunteer Fire Department., and Tipton Hospital EMS.
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