A Columbus woman is in critical condition following a multivehicle auto accident on the city’s north side.
Shirley Dietz, 79, 1332 Crescent Drive, sustained a serious leg injury and was transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. The hospital confirmed her condition Sunday.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a multivehicle personal injury accident about 3:15 p.m. Friday on Marr Road at County Road 550N.
According to sheriff’s deputies, a blue Toyota passenger car driven by Caitlyn Douglas, 22, 4655 W. Deaver Road, Columbus, was eastbound on County Road 550N and failed to stop at the stop sign.
Deitz, driving a silver Dodge Intrepid, veered into the northbound lane to avoid colliding with Douglas, but Douglas turned northbound and hit the Intrepid.
The impact sent the Intrepid off the roadway where it hit a white Dodge Ram utility truck, owned by David Lloyd of Golden Valley, Arizona, that was parked at an auto repair business located on North Marr Road.
Douglas’ Toyota spun around and traveled backwards before coming to rest.
A red Jeep Cherokee, driven by Allison Lindhorst, 26, 6094 E. Meadow Ridge Road, Columbus, which had been behind the Toyota on County Road 550N, swerved to avoid a collision as the vehicle came back toward her, but the Cherokee collided with the driver’s side of the Toyota.
Deitz was attended to by fire department personnel before she was transported by Lifeline medical helicopter to Methodist Hospital.
John Ward III, 28, 4655 W. Deaver Road, Columbus, a passenger in the Toyota, suffered a cut on his head, the sheriff’s department said.
He was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital, where he was treated and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Lindhorst was uninjured, the sheriff’s department said.
Deputy Terrance Holderness, the first to arrive on the scene, was assisted by Capt. Dave Steinkoenig, Sgt. T.A. Smith, Deputy Andrew Dougan and Indiana State Police Trooper Tommy Walker.
German Township Fire Department, Clifford Fire Department, Columbus Regional Hospital EMS and Indiana State Police assisted.
