Staff report
ROCKVILLE — A Parke County woman died Tuesday morning after her car was hit by a garbage hauler on U.S. 41 on the north side of Rockville.
Bonnie Cox, 77, of Rockville, died after her 1993 Cadillac ran a red light, Rockville Police Assistant Chief Rodney Smith said.
The accident occurred at 11:37 a.m. at Lincoln Road (U.S. 41) and Anderson Street. Smith said Cox was westbound when she stopped at the red light and then continued onto the highway to turn south. Her car was struck in the driver’s side by the northbound Phelps Brothers Disposal truck, driven by Wendy Thrasher, 44, of Danville, Ill.
Smith said witnesses stated the truck had the green light, and was traveling within the posted speed limit of 40 mph in that area. Smith said speed was not a factor in the crash, and drugs and alcohol were not a factor. He also stated that using a seat belt would not have prevented the fatal injuries Cox suffered. Thrasher was not injured.
Traffic on U.S. 41 was tied up for 90 minutes to two hours, Smith said.
Assisting at the scene were the Parke County Sheriff’s Department, state highway department personnel, Indiana State Police and Parke County Ambulance.
