Ice Causes Vehicle To Crash, Sending Passenger To Hospital

Ripley County deputies say neither occupant of the vehicle was wearing a seat belt.

(Ripley County, Ind.) – A passenger car rolled several times after a slush patch sent it barreling off of U.S. 421 near Versailles on Saturday.

The 2016 Buick was being driven by Austin Seeley, 19, of Versailles, when it hit the patch of icy slush in the roadway near Industrial Park Road, according to the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office. Seeley told deputies he lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway and struck an embankment. It rolled several times before coming to a rest upright.

When deputies arrived, the found the vehicle’s passenger, 20-year-old Joshua Daugherty, of Versailles, laying on the ground. Deputies tended to him until EMS arrived. Daugherty was transported to Kings Daughters Health in Madison with back and neck injuries.

Seeley had only a few scratches. He was treated at the scene and released.

Deputies say neither of the occupants were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Indiana Conservation Officers, Holton Police, Ripley County EMS, Versailles Fire Department and Carl’s Automotive.