A HEAD ON COLLISION CLAIMS THE LIFE OF TWO MEN IN BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA ON INDIANA STATE ROAD 46
Bartholomew County Sheriff's Dep. Jeff Wehmiller is working to investigate a crash that left a Columbus teenager and a Bluffton dead Friday afternoon. The head-on collision occurred near 5913 W. Indiana 46. Both men, Michael Brickley, 57, of Bluffton and Katlin Piper, 19, of Columbus, were pronounced dead at Columbus Regional Hospital shortly after the crash; however, authorities believe they were both killed instantly on impact.
A five year-old passenger in the truck driven by Brickley, Aeryk Nicholson, was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment. The child's condition was unavailable Friday night. Another passenger in Brickley's truck, Rochelle Saine, 46, of Bluffton, was transported by ambulance to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment. Although her injuries were reported as non-life-threatening, no updates were available Friday afternoon.
According to police, it appears that Piper was eastbound on Indiana 46W at approximately 2:56 p.m. when his vehicle crossed the highway's center line and crashed head-on into Brickley's pickup. Police were baffled by what could have caused Piper to move into the westbound lane; however, some witnesses reported seeing a low-flying aircraft at the time of the accident. Police also observed the aircraft, but could not say for sure that it was a contributing factor in the accident. Toxicology tests were submitted; however, police do not believe that drugs or alcohol played a part in the collision.
