Huffing possible factor in crash that claimed 2 more lives
This never-ending week has claimed two more lives in Dubois County.
Saturday morning at about 8:30 a.m. two cars collided on U.S. 231 in the WITZ Bottoms area.
According to authorities, Marcos A. Ayala, 18, of Huntingburg, was southbound in a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant when he crossed the center-line of the highway into the path of a northbound 2011 Scion XB driven by 49-year-old Earl B. Cox, of Myrtle Beach S.C. The two vehicles collided and debris from the two cars flew back and hit a southbound Toyota Camry driven by Lyndel G. Wasson, 76, of Jasper.
Both drivers had to be extricated from their vehicles. Ayala was taken to Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to injuries to his head.
Cox was taken to Memorial Hospital and then transferred to St. Mary’s where he later succumbed to major injuries to the left side of his body.
Hector A. Vazquez, 19, of Huntingburg, the passenger of the Mitsubishi, was taken to Memorial Hospital and then transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital for abdominal trauma.
Julia L. Hutchinson, 40, of Huntingburg, the passenger in the Scion, was taken to Memorial and also transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital for facial and head trauma.
The occupants of the Toyota Camry were uninjured.
The accident is still under investigation but the sheriff’s department stated they suspect one of the drivers of inhaling compressed air (huffing).
The Toyota had about $2,000 in damages, the other two vehicles were totaled in the crash.
Jasper First Responders and Volunteer Fire Department, Memorial Emergency Medical Services, Jasper Police Department, Huntingburg Police Department, Uebelhor and Sons wrecker and a Ruxer Ford wrecker all assisted on scene.
The Dubois County Free Press would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to all of the families affected by tragedy this week. We would also like to thank all of the many officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and first responders for your service through these tragic events. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Although being a member of an emergency response team, department etc. is very rewarding in helping others, after this week especially I do not think I could do what these professionals do. My thanks to all the emergency personnel of all capacities for your selfless commitment to our communities. God bless and Merry Christmas.
Well, this isn’t the time to be discussing the cause of this tragedy (and others of late), whether “huffing” or not, but way too many vehicles drift left of center, off roads and/or into oncoming traffic causing such needless mayhem and suffering. Still, something or a combination of things is causing it – more than we seem to subsequently hear and learn about. For a later time, maybe after the holidays.
Huffing, drunk, texting — anything that causes impairment: Stay at home and off the roads. Don’t kill or injure innocent people.
Its news, if huffing is the cause, then it needs reported. Live in Louisville and see how many horrible wrecks you see daily with details of what caused it. Thats just ridiculous to ask the news to sensor because you think its horrible because there were deaths. If you didnt want to know about the news, then why support the website?
Whoa – you knee-jerked. You must have skimmed over and totally misunderstood my point. Indeed it needs to be reported, and in fact much more so than it has been. My point was simply that with the holidays, respect and compassion for the families, and with so many facts about this specific crash still unknown, this is not the time to be trying to discuss or otherwise speculate on causes. Let the investigation proceed and the facts come out – hopefully the media will follow-up and inquire at a post-holiday time.