Four vehicle crash closes U.S. 231 and sends four to hospital
A semi-tractor trailer crossed the center line and caused a four-vehicle crash and injured four people Thursday afternoon.
Jonathan Shealey, 37, Evansville, was traveling northbound on US 231 at about 12:54 p.m. when the International semi-tractor trailer he was driving went left of center about a half mile north of Interstate 64, according to state troopers. The International side-swiped a southbound semi-tractor trailer driven by Knox A. Whitt, 21, of Attalla, Al., despite his attempt to avoid Shealey’s tractor by traveling off the road.
The trucks’ mirrors struck and then Shealey’s International struck the rear axle on Whitt’s trailer. Whitt’s tractor continued off the road before it eventually stopped. Whitt suffered a minor head injury and was transported to Memorial Hospital in Jasper for treatment.
Shealey continued northbound, still left of center, and struck a white Oldsmobile Alero head on. The Oldsmobile, driven by Tiffany M. Vogler, 21, Dupo, Illinois, was traveling southbound behind a gray Volkswagen Jetta driven by Dionne Jo Hanselman, 41, of Mariah Hill.
The force of the impact carried Vogler northbound, spinning the vehicle around until it came to rest facing north.
Vogler had to be extricated from the vehicle by the St. Henry Fire Department due to the severity of the damage to the car. Vogler, her front seat passenger, Thomas Vogler, Jr., 20, Dupo, Ill., and back seat passenger, Thomas Vogler, Sr., 48, Tilden, Ill., all suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Hanselman, who was immediately behind Whitt when the accident occurred observed Shealey traveling left of center and attempted to leave the roadway to avoid being struck by the tractor-trailer. As a result, Hanselman drove through a ditch and struck a utility pole head on. Hanselman was not injured.
Further investigation and inspections of the commercial vehicles are being conducted by the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Traffic charges are pending against Shealey for his involvement in the crash.
The Indiana State Police was assisted on scene by the Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, St. Henry Fire Department, and Memorial Hospital EMS.