DECATUR COUNTY — Indiana State Police said an Indianapolis man died in a two-vehicle head-on crash shortly before 7 a.m. on U.S. 421 in southern Decatur County.
The initial investigation by troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post indicated that a 2010 Pontiac passenger vehicle being driven by Joseph L. Arthur, 47, Indianapolis, was traveling southbound on U.S. 421 near County Road 700E, near the Decatur/Ripley county line. For an unknown reason, Arthur lost control of the vehicle which crossed the center line into the path of a northbound 2014 Freightliner semi pulling a trailer, being driven by Michael S. Olsen, 55, Charlotte, Michigan, said Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, ISP spokesman.
The vehicles collided nearly head-on in the northbound lane of U.S. 421. Arthur sustained fatal injuries in the collision. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Decatur County Coroner’s Office. Olsen’s vehicle caught fire immediately following the crash. He was able to exit the vehicle with minor injuries.
Indiana State Police crash reconstructionists were called to the scene to document the scene and reconstruct the crash. The crash remains under investigation although initial evidence suggested that speed played a role in the crash. The crash investigation remains ongoing.
U.S. 421 was closed in both directions for approximately five hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
Arthur’s family has been notified.
Troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post were assisted by the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, Greensburg Police Department, Ripley County EMS, Decatur County EMS, Greensburg Fire Department, Napoleon Fire Department, Decatur County Coroner’s Office, INDOT, and TDS Towing.
