Woman injured after car hits two mailboxes, tree

A Columbus woman was injured when she drove off the roadway and hit two mailboxes before striking a large tree, police said.

Mary V. Swinney, 69, drove her vehicle off the east side of the roadway on County Road 650E, south of 25th Street, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department reported. The accident east of Petersville occurred at 2:01 p.m. Monday, the department said.

Cause of the accident is still under investigation, department spokeswoman Judy Jackson said.

Deputies were assisted by off-duty Emergency Operations Center employee Tony McClain in gaining entry to the vehicle prior to the arrival of ambulance and a helicopter transport, police said.

Swinney was reported to be in good condition Tuesday afternoon at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital.

It appears that Swinney was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, resulted in her being thrown into the passenger’s seat, the department reported. Front and side air bags were deployed.

Deputies were assisted by Columbus Regional Hospital Emergency Medical Service, LifeLine medical transport and four area fire departments: Columbus Township, Clay Township, City of Columbus and Elizabethtown.