Chain Reaction Crash On U.S. 50

Five vehicles were involved in the smash up County Road 175 West in Ripley County.

(Ripley County, Ind.) – By the time the tires stopped squealing, five vehicles were involved in a chain reaction crash in Ripley County on Saturday, May 12.

The wreck was at the intersection of U.S. 50 and County Road 175 West. Ripley County Sheriff’s deputies say a Larissa Garret, 48, of Versailles, was westbound on U.S. 50 when she stopped to turn left and was waiting for an SUV to complete a U-turn on CR 175 West, as well as for oncoming traffic to clear.

John Thornton, 77, of Versailles, was driving a Ford Taurus westbound behind Garret. He swerved to go around the Chevrolet and towards the ditch on the south side of U.S. 50.

A Dodge pickup truck, being driven eastbound by Joseph Daniel, 60, of Spencer, slammed on its brakes and swerved into the westbound lane of U.S. 50.

A Nissan Altima driven eastbound by Julia Hildreth, 59, of Crothersville, saw Daniel’s pickup swerve to the left to avoid Thornton’s Taurus. Julia served to the right, into the ditch, to also avoid the black Ford.

The Thornton’s car collided with Hildreth’s Nissan in the ditch on the south side of U.S. 50.

Deputies say Julia Hildreth and a Jessica Stroud, 35, of Crothersville, were transported by ambulance to Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville.

The sheriff’s office was assisted at the crash scene by the Indiana Conservation Officers, Versailles Fire Department, Rescue 69-R7, Ripley County Medic 10, and Ripley County EMS.