Franklin County Sheriff’s Department press release
On Wednesday, July 7, at 1:28 p.m., Deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the area of U.S. 52, east of Yellow Bank Road, to the report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries.
Upon arrival, Deputies found a red, 2001 Chevrolet Silverado laying in the eastbound lane of U.S. 52, on its driver’s side. Deputies also found a 2014 Kia Soul off the south side of the roadway, completely engulfed in flames.
Responding fire departments were able to extinguish the flames on the Kia, where deputies discovered the driver’s body. The driver of the Kia was pronounced dead at the scene by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office. The driver of the Silverado was transported by Franklin County EMS-2, to Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville, for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident.
Deputies’ preliminary investigation determined that the Chevrolet Silverado, pulling a small utility trailer, was eastbound on U.S. 52. The driver of the Silverado failed to negotiate a right-hand curve in the road, causing the vehicle to go left of center, colliding head-on with the westbound Kia Soul. Upon collision, the Silverado rolled over, coming to rest on its driver’s side, while the trailer became dislodged from the pick-up truck. The Kia Soul went off the south side of the road, where it caught fire.
The names of those involved are being withheld at this time, pending notification of the decedent’s next of kin. Deputies continue to investigate and toxicology tests are pending. U.S. 52 east of Yellow Bank Road was closed for nearly six hours while deputies investigated.
Deputies were assisted at the scene by, Indiana Conservation Officers, Brookville and Metamora Volunteer Fire departments, Franklin County EMS-2, Responder 24, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, and an accident reconstruction team from the Indiana State Police.