A 17-year-old North Vernon girl was killed when her vehicle veered into the path of an oncoming car on an icy Jennings County road, police said.
A 2001 Honda Accord driven by Morgan R. Gibson, 17, of North Vernon was traveling westbound on U.S. 50 near County Road 450 West shortly before 8 a.m. Saturday when her vehicle crossed the center line into the path of an eastbound 2011 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Destiny Gerringer, 24, also of North Vernon, said Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, public information officer for the Indiana State Police Versailles post.
Gerringer’s vehicle struck the passenger side of Gibson’s vehicle, and both vehicles came to rest in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 50, according to the initial investigation by State Police Trooper Matt Holley.
Gibson sustained fatal injuries in the crash, Wheeles said. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office, he said.
Gerringer was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis with serious injuries, Wheeles said.
Frozen precipitation was falling around the time of the crash and the roadway surface condition was icy, Wheeles said. The roadway surface condition was believed to be a factor in the crash, he said.
Alcohol or drugs were not believed to be factors in the crash, although the crash remains under investigation, Wheeles said.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Jennings County EMS, Jennings County Coroner’s Office and the Spencer Township Fire Department.
