Greencastle, IN : An Indianapolis man suffered fatal injuries in a two-vehicle accident at U.S. 40 on Wednesday, 28th March 2018

An Indianapolis man suffered fatal injuries Wednesday in a two-vehicle accident at U.S. 40 and U.S. 231.

The accident occurred about 11:40 a.m. as a Nissan Maxima, driven by 50-year-old Thomas Aaron Evans, was westbound on U.S. 40 at a "very high rate of speed," according to Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton.

Evans failed to stop at the highway intersection stoplight, the sheriff said, and collided with a southbound semi.

Evans was ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious injury. He had been alone in the vehicle.

Capt. Tom Helmer, who responded to the crash about a minute after the call, said Evans still had a pulse when he arrived at the scene.

Operation Life transported Evans to the Putnam County Airport. From there, a StatFlight helicopter took him to Terre Haute Regional Hospital because weather did not allow for a flight to Indianapolis.

Evans was later pronounced dead in the operating room.

Helmer reported that the damp road could have been a contributing factor to the crash, besides speed and an apparent failure to yield at the red light.

The semi driver, 56-year-old Terry Barnett of Sullivan, said he had the green light and was following a tri-axle truck southbound through the intersection and never saw the car coming.

As Evans approached the intersection, he apparently noticed the stoplight too late and locked up his brakes.

On the damp pavement, the car turned slightly sideways, with the right front corner making impact with the driver's side of the semi cab.

"It hit the fuel tank," Helmer said, "but thank God it did not rupture the fuel tank."

Barnett did not suffer serious injury in the crash but was transported to the hospital for a drug screen mandatory for commercial drivers.

On the way, he began to complain of chest and rib pain. He was later released from the hospital, the pain likely caused by his seatbelt.

Police believe the crash would have been much worse had the car hit another passenger vehicle.

"We're saying, thank God it was a semi," Helmer said. "If that was a car, it probably would've killed somebody else."

Helmer said there were multiple witnesses both to the accidents and the events that preceded it.

Authorities had already received reports that a gray Nissan Maxima was earlier observed "all over the roadway" in the Plainfield area, last noted near Ray's Trash along U.S. 40. It is believed to be the same vehicle involved in the Putnam County accident.

Additionally, one witness said he observed the car in the Stilesville area driving erratically and at high speeds. The man also said the car looked like it had already been involved in a crash, with a torn up fender and wobbly front tire.

A woman told Helmer she had pulled onto U.S. 40 at County Road 675 East and had the car pass her doing an estimated 75 to 80 mph.

Both of these witnesses later rolled up to the scene of the fatal crash.

Another semi was following Barnett through the intersection. Helmer said he expects to get the video from the other truck for review.

Both vehicles were towed to Curtis Garage & Wrecker Service in Little Point, where the semi underwent an Indiana State Police inspection. No issues were discovered.

Evans was found to be an unlicensed driver, having never received a license, according to police.

As of Thursday morning, Helmer was awaiting further details about the investigation from the Vigo County Coroner's Office.

Source :
Indianapolis man killed in crash at U.S. 40 and 231