December 5, 1995

Fireman injured in cycle wreck

       A Greenwood fire prevention officer is listed in fair condition today after suffering serious injuries when a van turned into his motorcycle’s path Monday afternoon.  Thomas A. Kite, 37, 1781 N. 575W, Bargersville, was off-duty while driving his 1979 Harley Davidson north on State Road 135.  According to police, just before 1 p.m. a van driven by Roy L. Bridge, 79, 668 Whipporwill Way, Greenwood, turned east into Forest Lawn Cemetery and into Kite’s path. Kite then hit the windshield of Bridge’s van and went over the top of it. He was not wearing a helmet, said Tom Shively, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer. However, Kite was not listed as having any head injuries from the wreck. Kite was taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he is being treated for a pelvic fracture, said Cindy Miller in Methodist’s Public Relations office. Kite underwent surgery Monday night to fix the broken pelvis, said his brother, Greenwood Fire Chief Paul Kite. “He’s still kind of out of it because of the anesthesia,” Paul Kite said. He added he was confident his brother would pull through.  Rodney Johnson, division chief of fire prevention, will take over Kite’s duties until he returns.  Bridge was cited for failure to yield the right of way, Shively said.  A passenger in the van, Alda Bridge, complained of rib pain. She was taken to Community South Hospital in Indianapolis, where she was treated and released.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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