Sleepy Driver Wrecks Into Pole; 4-Year-Old Gets Airlifted To Area Hospital

The accident happened Monday night in Franklin County.

Franklin County Sheriff's deputies respond to a crash on U.S. 52 at West Roberts Road. Photo by the Franklin County Sheriff's Department. 

(Franklin County, Ind.) – A young child was airlifted to an area hospital after a sleepy driver crashed their vehicle in Franklin County.

Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash on U.S. 52 near West Roberts Road around 8:40 p.m. on Monday.

Deputies say Chelsea A. Hudek, 25, of Punta Gorda, Florida, was traveling westbound on U.S. 52 when she fell asleep at the wheel causing her vehicle to travel off the roadway, striking a utility pole and road sign.

Hudek and her front seat passenger, Patrick Whills, 47, sustained minor injuries in the crash and were transported to Rush Memorial Hospital in Rushville.

The driver’s four-year-old daughter was flown by Air Care to Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Her condition was not released.

Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies also dealt with another single-vehicle crash that occurred on May 27.

According to a news release, the accident also happened on U.S. 52 near Elm Tree Road. It was there that Daniel C. Hundley, 34, of Metamora, lost control of his vehicle and struck a guardrail.

The vehicle came to a rest on top of the guardrail and was partially hanging over an embankment.

Hundley and his passenger, Kelly M. Neville, 30, were removed from the vehicle with minor injuries. Both refused treatment at the scene.

Photo by the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.