COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Columbus Police Department is investigating a two-vehicle accident that occurred on Tuesday morning in which one of the drivers was killed.
At approximately 11:09 a.m., CPD officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of State Road 11, near the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds.
Crash investigators determined that a 2003 Honda Accord, driven by Ronald D. Rudicel, 69, of Scipio, was traveling southbound on State Road 11 when his vehicle traveled left of
center and struck a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Christal D. Downing, 46, of Columbus that was traveling northbound on State Road 11, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Rudicel was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and sustained fatal
injuries, Harris said. Downing was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The crash, which closed State Road 11 for approximately 2 ½ hours, remains under investigation.
Assisting Public Safety Agencies: Columbus Regional Hospital EMS, IU Lifeline, Columbus Fire Department, Indiana State Police, Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office.
