April 16, 1990

Martinsville woman killed in collision

       Driver negligence is being cited as a contributing factor in the death of a Martinsville woman late Friday night in northern Johnson County. Louisa P. McCarter, 53, was pronounced dead at Community Hospital South, Indianapolis, after she was severely injured in a two-car accident at Bluff Road and State Road 37about 11:20 p.m. The accident left three other people injured. Witnesses at the scene said McCarter, who was westbound on Bluff Road, failed to stop before trying to turn across traffic onto southbound 37. The witnesses told investigators that when McCarter failed to stop she pulled into the path of an oncoming car, said Johnson County Sheriff Doran Miller. “The skid marks appear to bear that out,” he said. McCarter’s car was broad sided in the drivers’ side front door by a car driven by Michael L. Risch, 26, Bloomington. Risch’s car left a set of skid marks at the scene, indicating the driver had to tried to stop for McCarter’s vehicle, Miller said. A blood test at the hospital revealed that Risch’s blood-alcohol content was 0 at the time of the wreck. No charges are expected to be filed in connection with the wreck. McCarter’s blood-alcohol will be checked during an autopsy at the Marion County Coroner’s Office, Miller said. The report from the autopsy was not complete this morning. McCarter’s son Shawn, 17, who was a passenger in the car, remains in satisfactory condition at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, where he is being treated for a broken leg. Another passenger, Michael Scott Corey, 19, Martinsville, was treated and released from Johnson Memorial Hospital, Franklin. Risch also was treated for minor injuries at Johnson Memorial and then released.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)
 
 
 

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