BROWN COUNTY — One woman was killed and three others were injured in a three-vehicle crash on State Road 46 East near Nelson Ridge Road.
Jane Lyons of Anderson had already died when first responders arrived at the scene just before 4 p.m. Friday, said deputy Josh Stargell, public information officer with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.
A 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, driven by Sheila Hendricks of Taylorsville, was driving west on State Road 46 East when it struck the rear of a 2012 Hyundai Sonata driven by Eric Knechtel of Columbus, police said.
Hendricks’ vehicle then left the westbound lane and struck, head-on, an eastbound 2017 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Joy Watson of Anderson. Watson was taken to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital by a medical helicopter. She was listed in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Her front-seat passenger, Baylee Bell of Anderson, was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital by ambulance. Her condition was not immediately unavailable.
Lyons, a former Madison County auditor, was in the backseat of that vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Earl Piper.
Hendricks was taken by ambulance to Methodist Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.
The crash remains under investigation pending toxicology results and a crash reconstruction report.
The Indiana State Police, the Brown County Volunteer Fire Department, Hamblen Township Volunteer Fire Department and Harrison Township Fire Department assisted at the scene.
