Published: June 29, 2009 10:36 pm         

Local, area news briefly: June 30, 2009

Terre Haute

• Four teenagers injured in accident

Four Terre Haute teenagers suffered minor injuries in a one-vehicle accident on U.S. 41 at Dallas Drive late Saturday.

Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Fox reported that Zachary W. Robbins, 16, was driving the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado when it overturned twice in the median.

Fox reported that Robbins and the passengers all agreed the truck was speeding on the highway as Robbins tried to strike construction barrels in the road construction zone south of the new Indiana 641 overpass. Robbins said he swerved and lost control of the truck, which slid sideways before overturning and coming to rest in the median.

Robbins was ticketed for violation of his probationary driver’s license for having three passengers age 17 within the first 90 days of his license.

Robbins complained of arm pain. Two of his passengers had minor bleeding, and a third passenger complained of head pain. All four teenagers were wearing seatbelts, the report indicated.



Greene County

• Bloomfield teen suffers head trauma

A Bloomfield teenager suffered head trauma when he rode his bicycle into the side of a pickup truck around 3 p.m. Sunday on Indiana 157 about a mile north of Bloomfield.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Deckard reported that Matthew Jordan Whitmer, 16, was riding west through the Grandview Cemetery approaching the highway when he failed to slow down as he approached Indiana 157. The bike ran into the highway into the front passenger side of a northbound 1996 Ford F250 driven by John Jarrett, 44, of Bloomfield.

Whitmer suffered head trauma, and was taken via Greene County ambulance to the Bloomfield Fire Department where he was transferred to Air Evac helicopter for transport to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Man dies after his car hits utility pole

A Bloomfield man died Sunday evening after police say his speeding car struck a utility pole south of Solsberry in eastern Greene County

Seth D. Lavender, 23, sustained internal injuries in the 7:46 p.m. accident on County Road 1100 East about one-eighth mile north of Indiana 43. He was partially ejected from his 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Marques reported that witnesses said Lavender was driving south at a high rate of speed and lost control of the car, which slid and rolled multiple times. The car struck a power pole and landed on its left side.

Marques was assisted at the scene by Center Township Fire Department and Greene County ambulance personnel.



• Man thrown 30 feet from motorcycle

A Jasonville man was thrown 30 feet from his motorcycle after striking a fence at 5:56 p.m. Friday on County Road 1350 West, south of Midland in Greene County.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Leon Dunigan reported that Michael Chadd Huff, 30, was driving a northbound 2006 Honda CBR600 when he lost control, ran off the road and struck a fence post. Huff was injured and was transported via ambulance to Greene County General Hospital in Linton.

Assisting Dunigan at the scene were Jasonville Police and Wright Township Fire Department.



• Jasonville man injured in wreck

A Jasonville man suffered a head injury and was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after a 6:18 p.m. accident Thursday west of Indiana 59 in western Greene County.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric S. Smith reported that Joshua D. Dickey, 30, was driving an eastbound 2004 Mitsubishi Galant when the car left County Road 700 North for an unknown reason. The car then struck a utility pole and trees, trapping Dickey in the car. He was rescued by emergency crews, and transported via ambulance to Greene County General Hospital in Linton before being transferred via Lifeline helicopter.

Assisting Smith at the scene were Jasonville Fire and Police departments, Linton Rescue and Wright Township Fire Department.