April 5, 1979

Woman hurt seriously in one-car accident

       A 22-year-old White River Township woman was listed in “serious” condition in the intensive care unit at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove today following an accident Wednesday. Kathy Wynn, a resident of the Glendale Trailer Court, was critically injured when the auto in which she was riding veered off Olive Branch Road and struck a utility pole about 1:55 p.m. The driver of the vehicle, Don Wynn, also a resident of the Glendale Trailer Court, was treated at the scene of the accident, and a second passenger, Chris Ragsdale, was treated at the scene then transported to St. Francis Hospital for treatment of superficial injuries. Mrs. Wynn, who was riding in the back seat of the 1773 Ford Mustang reportedly suffered internal injuries as well as injuries to her head and face. State Police Trooper Terry Collinsworth, who investigated the crash, said Wynn was driving eastbound on Olive Branch Road near its intersection with County Road 450W, apparently at a high rate of speed. He said the car veered off the roadway, traveled about 160 feet before striking a utility pole, and then traveled another 60 feet. The impact sheered off the pole and ripped open the passenger side of the car. Emergency crews from White River and Greenwood treated the victims at the scene. They were transported to the hospital, by Myers Ambulance and the Operation of Life Ambulance, from Greenwood. Emergency crews worked feverishly to stabilize the unconscious woman’s condition at the scene. Neighbor’s reported hearing a “large crash” as the accident occurred. A motorist traveling behind the Wynn auto drove to a neighboring home to seek help. Johnson County Deputies and Sheriff Robert Haugh were also at the scene of the accident, near a curve on the winding roadway. The accident on Olive Branch Road occurred less than a half hour after a personal injury accident on nearby Morgantown Road. Police and rescue workers were on the scene of that accident when they received the call to respond to the accident on Olive Branch Road. Authorities said Harry J. Rasdall, 67, 8520 Morgantown Road, Indianapolis, was listed in “fair” condition at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove this morning following the first accident. Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies said Rasdall was northbound on Morgantown Road north of Smith Valley road when his car apparently drifted across the center-line and struck a southbound vehicle driven by Viola F. Hill, 64, 1165 Mount Pleasant East Drive, Greenwood. Rasdall’s car veered off the Hill vehicle after the initial impact, deputies said, and struck a fence and a tree. Deputy Steve Byerly said Rasdall suffered a broken jaw and fractured his right leg and arm. The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

  
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