Published: May 22, 2008 11:10 am         

Vermillion deputy sheriff injured in crash

Alleged drunk driver crashes into sheriff’s deputy’s cruiser

VERMILLION COUNTY — A woman accused of driving while intoxicated and crashing into a sheriff’s deputy’s car remained in the Vermillion County jail Thursday evening facing at least one felony allegation.

The accident occurred about 8 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Indiana 63 and Vermillion County Road 150 North, police said.

Deputy Michael Holtkamp, 32, of Perrysville, was heading north on Indiana 63 in the passing lane with his emergency lights and siren activated, en route to assist a Cayuga deputy town marshal with an erratic driver refusing to stop on Indiana 234, according to a report by ISP Sgt. Joe Watts.

A vehicle driven by Janet Kay Stevens, 52, of Newport, was heading south on Indiana 63 and reportedly made a left turn into the path of Holtkamp.

Stevens was reported to have been trying to proceed east on County Road 150 North.

The two vehicles collided, spinning Holtkamp’s into a grassy area northeast of the intersection and Stevens’ to rest in the intersection.

Both vehicles were reported to be a total loss.

Holtkamp, an eight-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, was treated at West Central Community Hospital in Clinton for internal injuries, neck pain, abrasions and contusions. He was treated and released.

Stevens was taken to the hospital complaining of back pain.

She was treated and released about 5:30 p.m. Thursday and booked into the Vermillion County jail on allegations of operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content in excess of 0.15 percent, operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in serious bodily injury, a class-D felony, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and driving without a license.

She remained in jail Thursday with $10,000 bail, 10 percent allowed, Watts said.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts and air bags deployed in both vehicles, according to the report.

“The use of seat belts and air bags definitely reduced the injuries and quite possibly saved their lives,” commented ISP Trooper Ty Lightle, an investigator on the scene.

The accident was still under investigation.