A head-on collision Tuesday evening on U.S. 50 just west of North Vernon left a Seymour man dead and two North Vernon residents hospitalized.
Michael D. Healy, 25, of Seymour, was taken to St. Vincent Jennings Hospital after he was extricated from the gray 2009 Toyota sport utility vehicle he was driving. Healy was pronounced dead at the North Vernon hospital from massive internal injuries, according to Jennings County Coroner Gene Rudicel.
Police said the wreck, reported at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday near County Road 240W, caused Healy’s vehicle to land on top of a Chevrolet truck driven by Steve Luedeman, 61, of North Vernon, according to a news release from Indiana State Police spokesman Tommy Walker.
After being freed from the truck, Luedeman was flown to University of Louisville Hospital. His condition was not available Wednesday morning, Walker said.
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Police said a 17-year-old passenger of the truck, Shacey M. Root, of North Vernon, also was flown to University of Louisville Hospital after being extricated. Police said her injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.
Trooper Matt Holley reported Healy was traveling west on U.S. 50 when for an unknown reason his vehicle crossed the center line into the eastbound lane and struck the Chevrolet head-on.
Healy’s vehicle was lifted into the air and landed on top of the truck, leading to Healy, Root and Luedeman all being unable to get out of the vehicles by themselves, Holley said.
Police said moments before the crash, another motorist had observed Healy passing several other vehicles. Weather does not appear to have been a factor, Walker said.
Cheryl Fourman, a Seymour resident, said Healywas a great person with a great family.
“This breaks my heart,” she said. “My kids went to school with him. He took my daughter to the eighth-grade dance in a limo. Prayers for the family.”
Holley and Trooper Brent Lykins are investigating the crash. Personnel with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Jennings County EMS and Vernon Township Fire Department assisted.
