Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog

A truck traveling in the northbound lane of Indiana State Road 37 crossed the center line and into the path of a semi-tractor hauling a tanker trailer near Newton Avenue just north of Strawtown. The impact also entangled a Mercedes Benz; however, police were not yet sure how the vehicle got involved. The three-vehicle crash forced the shut-down of traffic flowing on the Northern Hamilton County stretch of Indiana State Road 37 this morning.

The driver of the pick-up truck was taken to Methodist Hospital via helicopter; however, his condition wasn't believed to be life threatening. Authorities reported that the other two drivers were uninjured.

Continue reading "EARLY MORNING AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT INVOLVING A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER SHUTS DOWN PORTIONS OF INDIANA STATE ROAD 37 IN HAMILTON COUNTY" »

A construction worker was killed while on the job on the Indiana section of Interstate 80/94 Tuesday morning.

45-year-old Christopher Jenkins of Valparaiso, Indiana, was patching potholes in a construction zone at about 1:30 a.m. when he was hit by a 1993 Mercury Cougar. The driver attempted to flee, however, a co-worker stood in front of the car to prevent the driver from fleeing. Recognizing this, the driver got out of the car and ran away. State troopers and Lake Station officers have not located the driver; however, they have found items possibly identifying him inside the car.

Jenkins was an employee Walsh Construction of Gary, Indiana.

Continue reading "CONSTRUCTION WORKER IS HIT AND KILLED BY SPEEDING CAR ON INTERSTATE 80 - 94 IN INDIANA" »

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.

Continue reading "A HEAD ON COLLISION CLAIMS THE LIFE OF TWO MEN IN BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA ON INDIANA STATE ROAD 46" »

Indiana State Trooper, Nick Klingkammer, was in his squad car stopped at a light near the intersection of Keystone and Fall Creek at around 1:30 am this morning when a vehicle driven by Sonja Dixon collided with him.

Klingkammer was taken to the hospital and released; however, it was discovered that Dixon had an blood-alcohol level of .21. Authorities are still investigating the incident; however, at this point they believe Dixon's intoxication was the cause.

A woman, who has not yet been identified by authorities, lost her life Monday morning when her vehicle was struck on north side of Indianapolis near North Michigan Road and Thorny Croft The accident occurred this morning just after 8 a.m.

Authorities reported that a Caucasian female driving a Honda Accord was near the 800 block in the southbound lane of North Michigan Road when she lost control of her vehicle as she approached slowing or stopped vehicles in front of her. Authorities believe she was attempting to avoid the vehicles in her lane and veered into northbound traffic hitting one or two other vehicles. The small two-door Honda Accord she was driving was spun out in front of an approaching northbound SUV. The Accord was t-boned on the driver’s side, and authorities believe the woman was likely killed instantly

Generally speaking, Indiana workers are precluded from filing a lawsuit against their employers or other people employed by the same employer when they are injured on the job. However, in the event that one can prove that the injury was due to the fault of another company or person employed by another company, an employee may also pursue what is called a "third-party claim". In this case, the employee would file a lawsuit for damages. This lawsuit would be in addition to the remedies available under the Indiana Worker's Compensation laws and benefits. Having said that, however, in most instances the employer's insurer will seek subrogation for those benefits paid on behalf of the employee. This is called a lien.

A common example of a work comp. injury with third party liability is an on-the-job auto accident. If an employee is traveling to a work-related function for the employer and is involved in a car accident due to the fault of another, the employee will probably be entitled to workers' compensation benefits for his or her injuries, but may also be permitted to file suite against the other driver under a third party claim for damages.

Another common example of third-party liability is in construction. If an employee is working on a large construction project and becomes injured from the neglect of another (such as an employee of another firm or sub-contractor) they may have a claim against that other firm or the general contractor who is in charge of safety on the job site.

Like a workers' compensation claim, in most cases the third-party claim must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. In some cases involving a defect in design or machinery, the Statute of Limitations may extend up to ten years from the date the product was placed into use. An attorney should be consulted immediately regarding the limitations on any case as these are very fact sensitive issues.

Continue reading "SOME INDIANA WORK INJURIES FALL OUTSIDE OF THE WORKER'S COMPENSATION REMEDIES" »

The Indiana Worker's Compensation Board has issued a handbook to facilitate employees' and employers' understanding of the laws which govern Indiana Work Comp claims. The following is a link to the Board's website and Handbook posting:

INDIANA WORK COMP HANDBOOK

Continue reading "INDIANA WORK COMP HANDBOOK" »

Continue reading "SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER OVERTURNS ON INTERSTATE 465 NEAR I 74" »

Two people were seriously injured in a morning car accident near State Road 13 when a truck driver pulled out into the path of a Chevy Impala. Police reported that the driver and a passenger in the Impala were taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, after their vehicle was struck, which caused it to flip and land in a ditch.

The injuries at the time of reporting were not thought to be life-threatening. The driver and a passenger in the truck were not injured in the collision. Immediately following the collision, police shut down portions of SR 13 between 226th Street and 256th Street while crews cleared debris from the accident.

Continue reading "TWO PEOPLE ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN MORNING CAR CRASH IN HAMILTON COUNTY" »

The Worker's Compensation Board of Indiana maintains a website that allows victims of work-related injuries in Indiana to research issues related to potential claims, obtain forms to file claims, and answer common questions regarding injuries sustained while on the job. The website has recently seen a face-lift and has benefited from numerous additions including statutory language, forms, and scheduling details for pending claims. The website is a true asset to Indiana Workers and their families who have suffered injuries while on their job or through their employment. The website can also be an asset for new or operating businesses to research their requirements and obligations under Indiana's Worker's Compensation laws.

Continue reading "INDIANA WORKER COMPENSATION BOARD HAS WEBSITE TO FACILITATE EMPLOYEES INJURED ON THE JOB" »

Westchester County officials are at a loss to explain the actions of the Long Island Mother that got behind the wheel of her mini-van while drunk on vodka and high on marijuana. The deadly combination attributed to her driving the wrong-way down a Westchester highway and killing herself and seven others, including her own daughter.

The Westchester County Medical Examiner released toxicology reports conducted on 36-year-old Diane Schuler following the deadly July 26th crash along the Taconic State Parkway in Briarcliff Manor. The report noted that Schuler's blood-alcohol level was .19%. The legal limit in New York is .08%. Although no criminal charges are anticipated in light of Schuler's death, the Westchester County District Attorney, Janet DiFiore, indicated that her office, accompanied by the New York State Police, will continue to investigate the facts surrounding the collision that caused eight deaths. DiFiore justified the continued investigation noting that she wanted the public and the families of the victims to "understand what lead to this horrific crash".

Among the victims of Schuler's actions were her 2-year-old daughter and three nieces. According to initial reports, Schuler, her daughter and her three nieces were returning home to West Babylon, Long Island, from a camping trip in upstate New York when she traveled nearly two miles against oncoming traffic before colliding head-on with a Chevrolet Trail Blazer driven by Guy Bastardi.

Bastardi was traveling with his father, Michael, and family friend, Daniel Longo. All three men were killed by the head-on collision.

The only survivor of the accident was Schuler's 5-year-old son, Bryan. Bryan is listed in stable condition at Westchester Medical Center, where he continues to receive medical care.

Sections of Interstate 74 near Brownsburg, Indiana, were completely shut down just after 8:15 am on Wednesday as result of a head on auto collision. Authorities were able to reopen all lanes just after 1 p.m..

The Hendricks County Sheriff's Department reported that a 59 year old woman driving a mid-sized SUV entered I-74 from an exit ramp at Ronald Reagan Parkway near Avon, placing her in the wrong lane travelling into the path of oncoming traffic. Eye-witnesses reported that the woman struck a semi near its rear axle, and her vehicle was sent airborne whereupon it struck another semi-tractor trailer head-on.

According the Hendrick's County Sheriff's Department, the woman was driving a Jeep Cherokee. She was killed instantly upon impact; however, neither semi driver was reportedly injured. Police were not yet reporting the driver's name.

Continue reading "AUTO CRASH ON INTERSTATE 74 CLAIMS THE LIFE OF WOMAN NEAR BROWNSBURG" »

Erin C. Ford, 20, of Coatesville, became the second victim to succumb to injuries in Sunday's head on collision on Interstate 70. Ford was taken off life support at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Sunday afternoon according to a press release.
The two-car crash happened around 6 p.m. Saturday near Indiana Highway 267.

Luke Lovins, 21, the driver of the vehicle in which Ford was riding, was pronounced dead at the scene. Lovins had been driving eastbound in his 2005 Chevrolet Malibu with four passengers, including Ford, when a westbound 2000 Ford pickup truck driven by Alfredo Luviano Martinez, 31, of St. Louis, crossed the median and hit them head on.

Thomas F. Ford, 53, Coatesville, remained in critical condition late Sunday at Wishard Memorial Hospital. Debora S. Ford, 50, and Chandler B. Ford, 13, both of Coatesville, Indiana, were taken to Methodist on Saturday and were listed in critical condition.

Martinez was treated at Methodist and released Saturday. Police said his pickup truck might have blown a tire just before the crash. Martinez was not cited, and alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the fatal collision.

The wife of Peru resident and PGA golf professional, Chris Smith, was killed and his children severely injured in a crash on Interstate 69 near Angola, Indiana. Beth Smith was killed while returning from a Father's Day visit with her family in Toledo, Ohio and the SUV she was driving collided with a Greyhound bus transporting a semipro football team from Canada.

Smith's children, Abigail and Cameron, were transported by helicopter to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, where they were listed in critical condition late Sunday. Their father, Chris Smith, has been competing in the PGA since 1991.

Continue reading "WIFE OF INDIANA GOLF PRO, CHRIS SMITH, DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 69 NEAR ANGOLA" »

85-year-old Rochester native, Rosemary Drake, was flown to Fort Wayne, Indiana, after a serious car crash in Warsaw on Sunday. Police say that Drake was headed northbound on Indiana 15 near the intersection of County Road 250 North when her vehicle collided with another vehicle driven by Teresa Cervantes, 38, of Leesburg. Police reported that the impact occurred as Cerveantes attempted to make a right hand turn at the light.

Drake was initially taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, but was later transferred in critical condition to a Fort Wayne facility. Police reported in a press release that she was scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday morning.

IMPD officers were forced to close all lanes of northbound traffic on Indiana's Interstate 465 in Indianapolis after 55-year-old John Wright rolled his semi truck over while trying to exit from eastbound Interstate 70 on Wednesday morning.

Citing excess speed as the cause, police indicated that Wright rolled his truck as he exited from the ramp on I-70 eastbound to I-465 northbound. The semi truck and its trailer, which was carrying four rolls of coiled steel, separated during the rollover. One of the coils reportedly struck another semi, but no injuries were reported in that vehicle. Wright was transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital for evaluation. His injuries were last reported as minor.

It took wrecker crews and additional emergency personnel nearly two hours to clear the road and reopen the Interstate to traffic. Wright was reportedly issued a ticket for operating his vehicle at an excessive speed.

Continue reading "SEMI TRUCK DRIVER TICKETED FOR DRIVING TOO FAST AFTER HE FLIPS HIS RIG OFF OF RAMP FROM I-70 EASTBOUND TO I-465 NORTHBOUND IN INDIANAPOLIS, MARION COUNTY, INDIANA" »

Two motorcycle riders were injured when the bike they were riding was struck by a truck that was pulling out of Stables Pub near Arlington and Southeastern Avenue. Attending emergency personnel noted that the female passenger has massive head trauma. The driver of the motorcycle was listed as having a fractured ankle.

The driver of the truck that struck the bike was arrested. While DUI is believe to have been the charge, there were no specifics with local media outlets.

A myriad of law enforcement departments, including SWAT, FBI, the DEA and the ATF swormed a house in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday attempted to coax the surrender of Robert Datillo, Jeffersonville, Indiana. Datillo was the primary suspect in the shooting of two Jeffersonville, Indiana police officers Thursday evening.

According to police, Datillo shot 39 year-old Dan Lawhorn and 32 year-old Keith Broady, both Jeffersonville Police officers, when they reported to a Motel 6 on reports of a domestic dispute. Both officers were transported to University Hospital in stable condition.

Despite their efforts to get Datillo out of the Louisville home, he shot himself to death.

Continue reading "JEFFERSONVILLE INDIANA MAN SUSPECTED OF POLICE SHOOTINGS KILLS HIMSELF IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY HOME" »

At around 1 a.m. Indianapolis (eastern) time, a SUV's driver apparently lost control of their vehicle causing it to rollover numerous times. In the process, a female passenger was thrown from the vehicle. She was taken to Methodist Hospital in Marion County, Indiana, and was reported in critical condition. The driver was reportedly doing well, but was suspected to have been driving over the legal alcohol limit when he lost control of his SUV.

Upon learning of the one-car accident, a firetruck was dispatch to the scene. While attending to the scene (with lights on), a second vehicle allegedly side-swiped the fire truck. It's driver did not stop; however, was tracked down by police a little further down the road. That driver too was suspected of operating his vehicle while intoxicated.

Prior to completing their investigation and clean-up of the SUV accident, a third allegedly drunk driver apparently stopped his vehicle in the middle of the interstate (rather than going around the emergency vehicles on the scene). State police were suspicious of the activity and suspected they were also driving while intoxicated.

All three drivers were arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence.

Continue reading "A CHAIN OF EVENTS LEADS TO THE ARREST OF THREE SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVERS, A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT WITH ROLLOVER, AND A FIRETRUCK BEING STRUCK ON INTERSTATE 465 IN INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA" »

Rainfall and melting snow caused the White River in Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana, to reach flood stage this week. Officials believe the river should crest and fall below flood stage in Noblesville by Saturday.

Although most roads in Hamilton County were able to remain clear of the flood waters, the White River continued to shows signs of rising. The Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency reported that the White River should crest at just shy of 17 ft., which would be just about 3 ft. above designated flood levels.

Indiana State Police were forced to close two of the three southbound lanes of I-65 just north of Southport Road after a tanker hauling 8,500 gallons of gasoline flipped over and landed upside down. State Troopers at the scene reported that gasoline was knee deep in the ditch where the semi trailer and tractor came to rest.

The driver of the rig, 73-year-old Loren Hooten of North Vernon, Indiana, told police that he didn't know what happened. He was reportedly driving southbound on Interstate 65 south of Indianapolis when the tractor and trailer was sent to the shoulder and went off into the ditch.

Just hours after reporting that a male driver was a third victim in the multi-vehicle pile-up on Interstate 69 just south of Noblesville in Fishers, Indiana on Tuesday morning, Indiana State police confirm that the suspected third decedent had been located in Methodist Hospital. Police blame the magnitude of the accident and the massive number of witnesses and victims as the culprit for the mix-up on information.

A third victim is now reported to have been killed by one of Hamilton County's worst traffic accidents on record. The deadly pile-up, which involved at least 32 vehicles, including 9 semi trucks and a firetruck, occurred around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. Witnesses reported that a firetruck, which had been helping a slide-off victim, was struck from behind, which in turn lead to a deadly chain of events where cars and trucks alike began piling up on a stretch of Interstate 69 in Fishers, Indiana, which sits adjacent to the Fishers High School in Hamilton County. The National Weather Service reported heavy snowfall that hit Central Indiana (about 3.8 in. in total) just as the morning commute was peaking. Dozens of other accidents were reported throughout the morning in that area and stretching up to Anderson. Indiana State Police blamed most of the crashes on people driving too fast and following other cars too closely in the poor winter weather conditions.

First reports identified two men in a heavy-duty commercial pick-up truck, Dustin R. Goettman, 27, and Ryan A. Phillips, 28, both of Anderson, as having been killed. Later Tuesday evening, police confirmed that a third victim of the accident, which had initially been listed as critical, had succumbed to their injuries.

Travel in the area remained dangerous for most of the day, and a large portion of Interstate 69 remained closed while investigation into the accident continued. Witnesses reported that the fatal pileup began when a southbound car on I-69 slid off the road, and a semi and a fire truck pulled over to help. As the morning commute traffic began stacking in the area, vehicles were unable to slow down and began slamming into one another. Shortly after the first impact, a semi truck reportedly slid sideways and struck several vehicles. By the time the vehicles and impacts slowed down, the motor vehicles involved included 22 passenger vehicles, nine semi trucks and a firetruck.

Continue reading "DEADLY CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 69 IN FISHERS, HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA, CLAIMS THE LIFE OF A THIRD VICTIM AND FORCES MULTIPLE HOSPITALIZATIONS" »

Indiana State Police were forced to shut down both directions of nearly 45 miles of Interstate 69 from Fishers in Hamilton County to the Alexandria exit after over 30 cars and semi-tractors were involved in numerous accidents Tuesday, including a deadly chain reaction pile-up in Fishers, Indiana. State police reported that twenty-eight cars and five semi trucks were involved in a chain reaction collision. Two people riding in a semi truck were killed and one person was critically injured. Ten others were taken to nearby hospitals, and police reported multiple entrapments with injuries.

Indiana State Police are blaming weather conditions, speed and drivers following too closely for the deadly chain of events. Police believe the accident started when two vehicles struck a firetruck that was assisting a stranded motorist on the roadside. Those firefighters were not among the reported injured. The accident's initiation point was very close to Fishers High School in Hamilton County, Indiana.

Three of the injured were removed on stretchers. Other witnesses and some of the injured were being taken to Fishers High School to be interviewed and/or treated for minor injuries. Several motorists remained entrapped for over an hour after the accident was first reported. There was also at least one fuel spill from one of the vehicles. Haz-Mat teams were dispatched to assist in clean-up.

Further north on I-69 in Madison County, multiple accidents and pileups were being reported with no resulting serious injuries or fatalities. The accidents involved a stretch of the Interstate from Pendleton to near Ind. 236 east of Anderson.

The sudden snow accumulation that hit the Indianapolis area Tuesday Morning prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory for the southeastern quarter of Indiana. They reported approximately 3.7 inches of snow fell at Indianapolis International Airport in about three hours before 10:00 am.

Continue reading "MULTI CAR PILE-UP NEAR FISHERS, HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA CAUSES SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH MULITIPLE INJURIES AND FATALITIES AND FORCES I-69 TO BE SHUTDOWN" »

Indiana Highway 64 was closed for approximately two hours on Tuesday, while Indiana State Police attended to a fatal car accident that claimed the life of a Marengo woman. According to initial reports, 36-year-old Suzanne M. Mosson lost control of her car on a snow-packed Indiana Highway 64 at about 1:30 p.m. Mosson's car reportedly spun out of control and collided with another car driven by a Milltown man. Mosson was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver wasn't injured. Accordingly to police, both drivers were wearing their seat-belts.

Continue reading "CRAWFORD COUNTY INDIANA WOMAN KILLED IN FATAL CAR ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 64 NEAR MILLTOWN" »

The Honey Creek Fire Department and Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a head-on collision at about 8 p.m. on Indiana Highway 63, just south of the Federal Correctional Complex near Ryman Drive. Four individuals were sent to the hospital by ambulance. Initial investigation indicated that a southbound pickup truck collided with a northbound car right towards the middle of the highway.

During a twelve hour period starting at the beginning of work commutes, the Indiana State Police reportedly responded to three slide-off accidents and 10 other car and truck accidents. Only two of the 10 accidents were reported to involve injuries. The Vigo County Sheriff’s Department had similar results and responded to two slide-offs and 13 accidents. Of those accidents, four were reported to have involved injuries.

State Police in the Bloomington District announced a Level 2 warning for travelers, which means conditions are threatening to the safety of the public and only essential travel should be made. Monroe, Owen, Greene, Lawrence and Brown counties fall into the Bloomington District.

Continue reading "INDIANA ICE AND SNOW MAKES FOR FATAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND CAUSES NUMEROUS CAR ACCIDENTS AND SLIDE OFFS" »

Autrey Lunsford, 70, of Cambridge City, Indiana, was killed Monday night while driving a 2001 Lincoln Town Car eastbound on U.S. 90 in Gadsen County, Florida, in the inside eastbound lane at about 9:41 p.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Lunsford was traveling at a high rate of speed and above the posted speed limit.

Based on preliminary police reports, Michelle Mann, 48, of Midway, Florida, was driving a 2000 Ford Taurus eastbound on U.S. Highway 90 in the outside eastbound lane. Lunsford's car apparently entered Mann's lane and struck Mann's car on its side. Reports indicated that Lunsford's Lincoln then continued east onto the southbound grass shoulder of U.S. Highway 90, and began to rotate clockwise. His Lincoln then struck several pine trees on the driver's side, coming to rest facing southwest. Mann's Taurus came to rest on the southbound grass shoulder of U.S. 90 facing east.

Lunsford was taken to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Continue reading "WAYNE COUNTY INDIANA MAN KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT ON FLORIDA HIGHWAY" »

The Henry County Indiana Sheriff's Department reported that 31-year-old Timeka Felton and 12-year-old Justin Boxley of Kankakee, Illinois, were killed and two others injured when their car struck the rear of a semi truck and trailer just after 7 a.m. on Thursday. The two were pronounced dead at the scene.

Also injured, Nicholas Felton, 38 of Kankakee, Illinois. He was initially taken to Henry County Memorial Hospital in New Castle. He was later transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Mya Jackson, 6, another passenger in the vehicle, was taken by life flight to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

According to their initial investigation, police believe the semi tractor was eastbound when it collided with a different passenger vehicle. It was believed that the semi driver then stopped his truck in the left lane, at which time the Felton vehicle slammed into the right rear of the trailer becoming pinned underneath it. Police do not believe that weather was a factor in the accident.

Continue reading "TWO ILLINOIS RESIDENTS KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT WITH SEMI TRUCK ON INTERSTATE 70 IN HENRY COUNTY INDIANA JUST EAST OF INDIANAPOLIS" »

Indiana State Police trooper, Shaun Rawlins, 25 suffered minor injuries Sunday while patrolling eastbound I-70, when his cruiser came across ice near the 51 mile marker and struck a guardrail.

Rawlins, a relatively new trooper joined the Indiana State Police in December 2007, and is stationed out of the Putnamville State Police Post. According to reports, Rawlins suffered injuries to his back and was transported to Hendricks Regional Health for treatment. He was reportedly then released to recover at home.

Michael John Kozlowski, 23, of Schererville, Indiana, was charged Thursday with five counts of homicide in connection to a crash he allegedly caused while operating a semi truck and trailer. Prosectors charge that Kozlowski's reckless driving and falling asleep behind the wheel of a semi truck killed five people, including the Chippewa Falls band director, Douglas Greenhalgh, 48; his wife Therese, 51; and their 11-year-old granddaughter, Morgan Greenhalgh. The driver of the bus, Paul Rasmus, 78, and student teacher Brandon Atherton, 24, were also killed. Several students were also injured on the bus carrying the high school band home from a weekend competition. According to Wisconsin State Police, the charter bus filled with 44 students, teachers and chaperones from Chippewa Falls High School, plowed into Kozlowski's semi trailer that had overturned and jackknifed on the highway, blocking both lanes. In total, Kozlowski was charged with 11 felony counts of reckless driving causing great bodily injury and nine misdemeanor counts of reckless driving causing injury.

According to prosecutors, the night before the crash (October 14, 2008), Kozlowski stayed out late partying. He then took off from Indiana and was reportedly driving erratically before falling asleep. Apparently, Kozlowski had veered of the road after crossing into Wisconsin and then over-corrected causing the truck to overtun on Interstate 94. Two witnesses apparently support the prosecutors version of Kozlowski's driving.

The complaint filed by Wisconsin Prosecutors cited information from Kozlowski's truck's global positioning system, and indicated he traveled to an Indiana tavern Oct. 14 to attend a going away party for a co-worker. Tavern witnesses reported that Kozlowski was at the tavern until closing time early Oct. 15th. Those witnesses also told investigators Kozlowski was drinking hard liquor at the Indiana tavern, but there is no mention in the complaint on any blood-alcohol test that may have been performed.

According to state law, the maximum penalty for Kozlowski on each of the homicide charges is 10 and a $25,000 fine. Kozlowski faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000 on each of the felony reckless driving count, and up to a year in prison and $2,000 fine on each misdemeanor count.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board also found possible problems with the brakes on the bus; however, the agency believes a lack of skid marks on the interstate may, however, indicate that the bus driver did not have time to stop.

Continue reading "SCHERERVILLE INDIANA SEMI TRUCK DRIVER CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF HOMICIDE IN CONNECTION WITH A CRASH THAT KILLED FIVE PEOPLE AND INJURED OTHERS" »

Melvin A. Trent, a 76-year-old Plainfield resident, was killed Tuesday when his westbound 1998 Ford Taurus crossed the center line and crashed into a Hendricks County Highway Department salt truck near County Road 300 East in Danville, Indiana.

The Highway Department salt truck was driven by John L. Baumunk, 70, of Lizton, and was travelling eastbound. Mr. Trent was pronounced dead at the scene. Baumunk was not reportedly injured. Police do not know why Trent's vehicle left his lane, and the Hendricks County Sheriff's Department was still working to determine the cause of the accident.

According to new media reports, the Fishers Indiana business man who attempted to fake his own death by jumping from a turbo-prop single engine plane on Sunday has been apprehended by U.S. Marshals.

Indiana authorities will now seek to have him brought back for prosecution to answer to charges filed in Hamilton County Superior Court in Indiana. On Tuesday morning, Hamilton County prosecutors filed an Affidavit for Probable Cause and an Arrest Warrant citing allegations of investment fraud.

Marcus Schrenker, 38, an Indianapolis suburb financial investor, was discovered late Tuesday at a northern Florida campground. Just two days prior, Schrenker had apparently tried to fake his own death in a plane crash. Schrenker owned the plane he jumped from and is reported to have been a very accomplished pilot with video demonstrations appearing across the web showing him flying at over 200 mph beneath a bridge. Authorities believe Schrenker parachuted to the ground and later sped off on a motorcycle that he had previously stashed away in a central Alabama storage facility.

At the time of his arrest, Schrenker had reportedly sustained a self-inflicted gash just below his elbow and extending to his wrist. The US Marshall's office indicated that he was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition early Wednesday.

Although evidence was still being investigated, by all accounts Schrenker's activity revealed a well-orchestrated chain of events apparently intended to fake his death and run away from looming legal action. Prosecutors in Hamilton County Indiana had been investigating financial fraud.
Authorities reportedly served a warrant on New Year's eve, just one day following a Petition for divorce that was filed by Schrenker's wife. An Indiana Department of Insurance investigation was apparently probing three Schrenker businesses that had been under a cloud of suspicion after angry investors accused him of stealing investments and taking unauthorized commissions.

At 38, Schrenker had amassed what appeared to be an impressive accumulation of wealth. He collected luxury automobiles, owned two airplanes and lived in a 10,000-square-foot lake house in an upscale Indianapolis suburb neighborhood known as "Cocktail Cove," where affluent boaters often socialize with cocktails in hand.

The Indiana Department of Labor is reporting that 62,326 claims involving one or more days of missed work were filed in 2007. Of those claims, 92 fatalities were reported.

17,724 agreements to compensation were filed with the Board. Of those agreements, 9,860 were TTD (Temporary Total Disability) agreements and 7,864 were PPI (Permanent Partial Impairment) agreements

1,665 requests were made for independent medical examinations.

5,971 applications for disputed claims were filed, with 3,203 claims closed by agreement between the injured worker and the worker's compensation insurance carrier. Those 3203 claims were not necessarily claims filed in 2007.

Continue reading "INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE RELEASES 2007 INDIANA WORKER'S COMPENSATION STATISTICS" »

Sarah Woodruff, a 20-year-old Ball State Student, was killed in a single vehicle accident on Interstate 69 near Pendleton in Madison County. According to police reports, Woodruff was believed to have been text messaging on her cell phone just before her SUV rolled several times and throwing her out of the vehicle. Preliminary investigation revealed that Woodruff was not wearing her seat belt and may have been speeding at the time she lost control of her vehicle.

Indiana State Police believe that Woodruff's accident was due to driver inattention and cite cell phone use as a contributing factor in the crash.

Continue reading "SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 69 NEAR PENDLETON, MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA CLAIMS THE LIFE OF BALL STATE STUDENT " »

Illinois State Police near Pesotum, Champaign County, Illinois, confirmed a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 74 did involve at least one fatality. The accident reportedly took place near mile marker 213.

Illinois State Police closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 74 as a result of the one-vehicle accident. The crash was just one among many on I-74, and numerous city, county and rural roads.

The Sheriff's Department in Vermilion County, Illinois reported that a number of cars were in ditches, but no serious injuries or problems had occurred by that time. Illinois State Police troopers reported as many as 10 crashes involving property damage and 50 reports of vehicles that had slid off the roadway and into the ditch in district 10 near Champaign.

The weather also succeeded in giving drivers in Indiana a few headaches earlier this morning. Indiana State Police reported numerous slide-offs on I-74 and along Indiana Route 63 in Vermillion County, Indiana. The Vermillion County Sheriff's Department also responded to a couple slide-offs this morning, but no injuries were reported to be related to the accidents. Sheriff's departments in Fountain County and Warren County Indiana were not reporting any incidents as a result of the icy conditions.

Continue reading "ICY ROADS THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS AND INDIANA CAUSE NUMEROUS CAR ACCIDENTS AND AT LEAST ONE FATALITY" »

A fatal accident and numerous collisions were the product of icy roads throughout central Indiana on Tuesday. The fatal accident involved a twenty-year-old Petersburg woman driving on Indiana State Road 57 near Evansville.

The Gibson County Sheriff's Department reported that the vehicle driven by Eboney Star Alvey, of Petersburg apparently went out of control while driving on a railroad overpass near Oakland City in the early hours Tuesday. According to police reports, Alvey's vehicle collided with a truck in the opposite lane. Witnesses reported her vehicle then burst into flames. Portions of Interstate 65 were temporarily closed in the Seymour and Columbus areas to allow salt trucks to catch up on roadway treatments.

Continue reading "SINGLE CAR MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CAUSES DEATH OF TWENTY YEAR OLD IN SOUTHERN INDIANA" »

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has been testing high tension cable barriers on two stretches of Indiana interstate for about 2½ years. In late 2005, barriers were installed on Interstate 65 between Zionsville and Lebanon and on Interstate 69 between Noblesville and Anderson. In the three years prior to those installations, the INDOT reported that the same two sections of Interstate combined had 12 fatal crashes, 11 serious injury accidents, and 69 accidents involving injury.

The13-mile test section on I-65 was hit 69 times within the first eight months of its installation; however, there were no vehicles permitted to pass through the barrier and there were no serious injuries in the crashes where the barrier was struck. The cable barrier stopped also stopped at least one semi tractor-trailer.

Beyond those initial eight months, the success of the barriers have continued. Since their installation, those same stretches have had no fatal crashes, five serious accidents and only 13 accidents involving injury. INDOT reported this as an 84 percent reduction in fatalities and accidents involving injury. Most importantly, the cable barrier has provided a 100 percent stoppage of vehicles crossing the median. The success of these test sections has prompted an increase look on the part of the INDOT to place additional barriers throughout the State. Areas of increased risk and high volume accidents are set to get attention first.

Continue reading "INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS TESTING NEW CABLE SYSTEM TO PREVENT FATAL CROSSOVER VEHICLE ACCIDENTS" »

State Road 28 in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana, was closed after a semi-truck hauling pigs knocked out power when it left the highway and struck several power poles. Power was knocked out for more than eight hours Friday night when the semi tractor-trailer being driven by Brian Cagle, 22, Lebanon, Ohio, lost control of the vehicle. Cagle told police the trailer swayed causing his truck to run off the road and strike four utility poles. The single vehicle incident occurred at around 4:37 p.m. near Delaware County Road 100 West.

A resident near the accident site reported that the power outage lasted nearly nine hours and kept the highway closed past midnight. While emergency and power crews attended to the scene, another vehicle ran off the road to avoid colliding with the disabled truck.

Continue reading "SEMI TRUCK ACCIDENT CAUSES AREAS OF MUNCIE IN DELAWARE COUNTY, INDIANA TO LOSE POWER" »

Even though at least fifteen police officers have been killed in Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) rear-end collisions, and more than double that number have been burned or injured since 1983, the CVPI continues to be the most popular police cruiser for Indiana State Police, City and Sheriff departments. Indiana is not alone in their preference for the CVPI, as the CVPI is the most common vehicle used by our nation’s law enforcement. In fact, in the State of New York, CVPI’s constitute over 80% of the State Police’s cruiser inventory.

Following a near fatal collisionwith a New York State Trooper (driving a Crown Vic) and a semi tractor trailer, US Senator Charles E. Schumer today renewed his call for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to re-open and broaden an investigation to determine why the car and its sister models catch fire upon impact.

Schumer said that now that over a dozen officers in the country, including a New York State Trooper near Yonkers in December, have been killed in Crown Victoria accidents, the problem must be investigated immediately. A County Deputy Sheriff narrowly escaped death Friday morning when his Crown Victoria police car collided with a tractor trailer and caught on fire.

Schumer renews call for National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to investigate why Crown Vics are susceptible to fiery accidents, and how to better remedy the problem. Previous attempts to retro-fit the cars have had little impact, and the most recent incident in New York demonstrates this ongoing issue. "This is a no-brainer. No one should have to explain how important it is to make sure our police officers have cars that are safe. We know that there's a problem, and now we need to figure out what we need to do to solve it," Schumer said. "If that means changing cars so that a different model is used, so be it. Time is of the essence and the longer we wait, the more accidents we'll see."

In May of this year, Schumer said the NHTSA should continue to investigate why the cars are especially susceptible to explosions, rear-end and otherwise, and what can be done to remedy the problem. Because NHTSA's previous suggestion to retro-fit the cars did not prevent recent accidents, Schumer said the NHTSA should consider whether there should be a nationwide moratorium on the purchase of any additional CVPI’s until remedial measures – like installing fuel bladders used in the auto racing industry, and fire suppression systems like those used in military vehicles – are proven effective.

Continue reading "SENATOR ASKS NHTSA TO REOPEN INVESTIGATION INTO POPULAR INDIANA POLICE VEHICLE FOLLOWING NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT WITH SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER" »

Investigators in Hamilton County are pointing to icy roads as the cause of two accidents resulting in three deaths that occurred within miles of each other. One of the fatalities occurred in a crash on State Road 37 near 206th Street, and two others lost their lives near 216th Street.

206th Street & State Road 37

Hamilton County emergency crews responded to the automobile accident on State Road 37 near 206th Street. Four people were rushed to the hospital from the scence. One did not survive. Accident re-constructionists are working to piece together what happened; however, emergency crews presenting to the scene noted ice on the road.

State Road 37 & 216th Street

Only minutes later while investigators with the Hamilton County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team were reviewing the accident scene at 206th street, another vehicle crashed on North SR 37 near 216th Street.

Continue reading "FATAL AUTO COLLISIONS MARK A DANGEROUS TRAVEL WEEK IN HAMILTON COUNTY INDIANA" »

A Boone County firefighter was hospitalized with injuries after he was struck by a semi-tractor trailer on Friday morning.

Fred Long, a 46 year-old Jamestown volunteer firefighter, was struck on Interstate 74 while he was responding to an accident near the 54th mile marker in Boone County. Police investigators believed the truck jackknifed as its operator was attempting to avoid the accident scene Long had been responding to. In the process, the semi-truck hit another vehicle and then struck Long, throwing and pinning him under the rear axle. Physicians attending to his injuries noted that Long had a crushed pelvis, a fractured leg, and multiple internal injuries.

Driving in Snowy Weather

Snow and ice on the road can make for hazardous driving conditions that can lead to serious Indiana injuries and accidents. Just because poor weather conditions exist does not mean that there aren’t steps that you can take to drive safely and prevent auto accidents from happening. As the driver of a car, truck, or bus, there are additional steps you can to exercise even greater care to avoid auto crashes from happening in poor weather, including:

Continue reading "SEMI TRUCK STRIKES FIREFIGHTER CAUSING ON THE JOB INJURY" »

When individuals become the victim or are a party to a collision or motor vehicle accident, a myriad of insurance and legal concerns may present themselves. To preserve and protect their rights, it is critical that motorists, passengers and pedestrians who are involved in serious accidents immediately collect and preserve evidence for future dealings with insurance companies and for possible litigation. Such items include police reports, accident photos, witness statements, driving records and medical records.

As litigation attorneys, it is not at all uncommon for our firm to see injury victims incur medical bills, property damage, lost wages or pain and suffering as a result of such incidents. As a victim, these are all items for which they are entitled to compensation. Injuries affect entire families through loss of services, lost wages, loss of companionship and even the loss of love and affection of the injured person. Achieving just compensation for people involved in any type of automobile, motorcycle or trucking accident, as well as those affected by the event, requires active participation by not only a skilled attorney familiar with such areas of practice, but by the victims and families themselves.

Continue reading "AUTO AND TRUCKING ACCIDENTS CREATE LEGAL AND PERSONAL ISSUES - WHAT TO DO?" »

As temperatures closed in on freezing Tuesday afternoon and continued through Wednesday, holiday travelers faced icy and dangerous road conditions. Dozens of accidents, injuries and a number of fatalities were blamed on the conditions and at least two interstates were shut down for hours.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, all lanes were closed on I-465 in both directions at Meridian Street early Wednesday morning because of icy conditions and numerous crashes made 465 on the northwest side look like a parking lot . Portions of I-69 between Fishers and Anderson were also forced to closed Tuesday and into Wednesday to allow salt trucks to come in to treat specific areas in an attempt to get traffic moving.

At least five deaths were reported across the Indiana from crashes on slick roads Tuesday.

A crash in Boone County claimed the life of a 79-year-old man and his 77-year-old wife. Two crashes in Dubois County killed an 18-year-old man and 30-year-old pregnant woman. The woman's fetus did not survive.

Benton County is under a declared a State of Emergency effective at 11:00 am Wednesday.

The Owen County Sheriff's Office reported a fatal crash Tuesday afternoon. Emergency service divers found the body of a man inside the vehicle. The county coroner is working with police to identify the man. Police believe the crash is likely weather related.

Accident reports can typically found after 10 days following the date of incident. Most reports can be found on the Indiana BMV website:

Indiana BMV Reports

Continue reading "INDIANA CAR ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES MULTIPLY WITH ICY ROAD CONDITIONS" »