A Columbus teen is listed in fair condition at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident south of Taylorsville.
Cheyenne K. Armstrong, 17, a junior at Columbus North High School, sustained serious internal injuries in the single-vehicle accident at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on County Road 330W near County Road 450N, Indiana State Police said.
Armstrong is in her second year of nursing classes with Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. C4 Health Careers Program, said Larry Perkinson, BCSC employee and student assistance coordinator. C4 stands for Columbus Area Career Connection.
At North, she works with students with special needs to learn more about their health needs, Perkinson said, something she plans to continue as a career.
C4 staff members described Armstrong as a student who always has a big smile, is kind and caring to everyone and is extremely well liked, Perkinson said. She is also known as someone that fellow students feel comfortable confiding in, he said.
As part of her C4 nursing training, Armstrong is assigned to work with North life skills teacher Amy London’s class.
London said while Armstrong’s focus is the medical needs of the students, Armstrong interacts with the students in their activities and assignments.
“They just absolutely love her,” London said. “She is just so kind, and she has the most patient attitude toward the students.”
As a student, Armstrong is dedicated to making sure her own schoolwork is done, coming to the life skills classroom during her free time to work on her own homework, London said.
“And then she always comes out and asks, ‘Is there anything I can do to help?,’” London said.
London plans to tell the life skills students about the accident when class resumes Monday and to ask what they would like to do to support her.
The teacher said she suspects each student will want to do something for Armstrong, London said.
“She’s just a really good kid,” she said.
Armstrong was southbound on County Road 330W when her vehicle left the road for an unknown reason, state police said.
The 1995 Buick rolled several times, investigators said. Armstrong had to be extricated from the vehicle before being flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital, state police said. The State Police investigation concluded that Armstrong’s speed was a contributing factor in the accident.
