Details

Created on Monday, 09 April 2018 16:24

On Sunday, April 8, 2018 at approximately 12:35 P.M. Jasper County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a traffic crash on US 231 in the area of County Road 200 North involving a head on collision.  Upon arrival of first responders, it was discovered that there were serious injury with entrapment. 

Investigation by Jasper County Sheriffs’ Deputies would reveal that a 1999 Ford Taurus was being operated by Margaret Kelly, age 43 of Rensselaer, Indiana.  The Kelly passenger vehicle was traveling northbound on US 231 with a line of northbound traffic.  For reasons unknown, Kelly suddenly drove into the oncoming southbound lane of travel and impacted head on with a 2005 GMC Envoy that was operated by Patricia White, age 59 of Demotte, Indiana. 

Witnesses that observed the crash advised the investigating deputies that the Kelly passenger vehicle gave no indication of erratic driving but suddenly drove into oncoming traffic.  Due to the sudden movement of the Ford Taurus, Patricia White could not avoid the collision. 

Rensselaer Fire Rescue, Prompt Medics, Keener Medics, and Indiana State Police were all present on scene assisting with injured parties and extrication.  Margaret Kelly was extricated from the Ford Taurus and taken to Franciscan Hospital in Rensselaer where she pronounced dead due to injuries from the crash.  Patricia White was flown by Stat Flight Medivac to Christ Advocate in Illinois with severe internal injuries. 

The on scene investigation took approximately three hours to clear the area and is still under investigation.  Both the Kelly vehicle and the White vehicle were only occupied by the drivers and contained no passengers. 

By Terry J. Risner Sheriff