Published: April 05, 2009 11:38 pm         

26-year-old dies after Saturday accident in Parke County

A Parke County accident sent two to the hospital and killed one Saturday afternoon.

A teenager retrieving his cell phone is being attributed as one of the causes, according to Indiana State Police.

According to an accident report issued by the ISP, a Jeep Wrangler driven by FN Lutz III, 17, of West Lafayette, was traveling north on Indiana 47 near Parke County Road 640 East about 1:20 p.m. Saturday when it traveled into the south lane.

A car driven by Kevin Boicourt, 22, of Crawfordsville, was heading south on the same road and swerved into the north lane to avoid the Jeep. The Jeep moved back into the north lane and the two collided before the car could re-enter the south lane, according to the report.

According to the report, troopers found that Lutz had been looking down to retrieve a cell phone at the time of the crash.

Boicourt and his passenger, Chad A. Simmons, 26, Crawfordsville, were extricated from their vehicle by the Marshall Volunteer Fire Department after 40 minutes, and Indiana 47 was closed for nearly five hours. All persons involved in the accident were wearing seatbelts, according to the report.

Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene by the Parke County Coroner’s Office.

Boicourt was transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis complaining of chest pain, fractures and internal injuries. An update was not available.

Lutz was transported to St. Clair Medical Center in Crawfordsville complaining of hand and leg pain. He received a traffic citation for driving left of center.

According to the report, it is unknown yet whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.