Morning Commute Slightly Hampered by Snowfall
Putnamville—Today from 6:00a.m. until 2:40p.m., Indiana State Police troopers from the Putnamville Post responded to: two disabled vehicles, ten vehicle slide-offs, and seven vehicle crashes with three injuries, one very minor.
The majority of the occurrences were in eastern Vigo and Clay Counties along Interstate 70, with a concentration between mile markers 23 and 26 (Clay County). Only one incident, a slide-off, occurred in Putnam County.
The most significant injury crash occurred at 10:51 this morning on eastbound Interstate 70 near the 23 mile marker in Clay County. Preliminary investigation revealed a silver 2001 Dodge pickup, driven by 63-year-old Betty Catt of Marshall, IL, was eastbound when Ms. Catt lost control on the slick roadway, traveled off the south side and rolled over three times. As the pickup landed on its wheels, the vehicle struck a small tree causing the tree and limbs to collapse on the vehicle. In doing so, the crush damage entrapped her passenger father, 83-year-old Frank Morris of Marshall, IL. Morris was extricated by members of the Jackson and Posey Township Fire/Rescue Departments within 30 minutes of the initial 911 call. Both were transported to Terre Haute Regional Hospital, Catt for facial lacerations and back pain, and Morris for back and rib pain and possible internal injuries. The injuries to both are believed to be moderate and not life-threatening. Seatbelts were in use and drugs/alcohol were not a factor. The crash was investigated by ISP Master Trooper Matt Ames. Assisting were ISP Troopers Bill Bradbury and Ted Robertson, Jackson and Posey Townships Fire/Rescue, and CARE EMS.
Two pictures are attached. Silver Dodge pickup with roof crush is Catt/Morris crash and the larger pickup off into the wooded area was another unrelated crash with no injuries.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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SGT. JOE WATTS
