Attempted Traffic Stop Leads To Car Accident In Ripley County

The accident happened on Wednesday evening around 7:00 p.m.

(Ripley Co., Ind.) - An attempted traffic stop in Ripley County led two individuals to be hospitalized on Wednesday evening.

Just before 7:00 p.m., a driver notified Ripley County Law Enforcement Units of a possible intoxicated or impaired driver in red Chevrolet Spark with an Ohio license plate “all over the road.” The car was traveling west on State Road 46 from State Road 101 in Penntown.

Around 7:05 p.m., Corporal Ryan Metcalf with the Batesville Police Department spotted the car traveling westbound on S.R. 46 near S.R. 129.

When Corporal Metcalf observed the red Chevrolet traveling left of the center line, he attempted a traffic stop. The car then collided with the rear axle of a semi-tractor trailer just west of East Pearl Street on S.R. 46.

Through an investigation, it was found that the red Chevrolet Spark was being operated by Michael Scott Watkins, 34, of Wilmington, Ohio. Justin Lee Walton, 26, of Maineville, Ohio was accompanying Watkins in the front seat passenger. 

The White 2012 Peterbilt semi traveling east was operated by Thomas A. Hendricks, 48, of North Vernon, Indiana.

Watkins and Walton were both taken to Margaret Mary Health for non life-threatening injuries. The operator of the semi was not injured in the accident.

The investigation is ongoing and toxicology results are pending in the case.