December 21, 1972

Four-car crash

       Two seriously injured on SR 37.  An Indiana State Police Major was one of the two persons seriously injured Thursday night in a four car traffic crash on State Road 37 in Johnson County, state police reported. Hospitalized with injuries was Maj. Shirley Wasson, 52-years-old, Indianapolis. Wasson is head of the motor carrier division of the state police department. He was badly injured when his car collided head-one with another auto north of SR 144 intersection about 5:15 p.m. Also hospitalized with injures in the crash was William R. Frye, 35, Indianapolis. The other two drivers in the four-car accident were John Wissner, Mooresville, and Robert O. Moore Bedford, Ind. They were not injured. According to investigating State Police Officers, Frye, and Moore were driving southbound on SR 37 and Maj. Wasson and Wissner were northbound. Frye allegedly made an improper pass and his car struck the Wissner auto in the left side, and then glanced off and struck the Wasson auto head-on. After impact Wasson’s vehicle went backwards into the left side of the Moore car. The car being passed by Frye was not struck. Wasson, who was returning to Indianapolis from Bloomington where the state police recruit school is now in session, was taken to Johnson County Memorial Hospital in Franklin for emergency treatment and examination. He was later transferred to Indianapolis Methodist Hospital. Frye was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, authorities said. Maj. Wasson was listed in satisfactory condition at Methodist Hospital and Frye’s condition was also reported satisfactory. State Police Friday morning said Wasson suffered a broken left knee, broken right shoulder, broken left wrist and back injuries. Frye suffered a broken left knee, possible internal injuries, severe lacerations below the nose and on the mouth and tongue, and back injuries.  (Reprinted with permission of the Daily Journal)
 

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