Special to the Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
At 1:23 p.m. Thursday, Indiana State Police troopers and Sullivan County emergency agencies responded to a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 41 at County Road 300 North. The crash involved a Knox County EMS ambulance and a passenger car.
Preliminary investigation by troopers revealed that the Knox County ambulance was northbound on U.S. 41 in the passing lane at County Road 300 North. The ambulance was en route to an Indianapolis area hospital with an onboard patient, but not in emergency status (no lights or siren).
A passenger car was westbound on County Road 300 North, failed to stop and drove into the path of the northbound ambulance. The driver of the passenger car was pronounced dead at the scene of suspected head and internal injuries. The four occupants of the ambulance were taken to Sullivan County Community Hospital for apparent non-life-threatening injuries.
On board the ambulance were the driver, the patient, a paramedic and a nurse.
The ambulance was driven by Eric Constant, 22, of Indianapolis. He was treated for complaint of pain. The paramedic was Chris Brackman, 32, of Decker. He was also treated for complaint of pain. The nurse was Tammy Robinson, 43, of Wheatland, and she was treated for complaint of pain.
The ambulance patient, Gerald Coleman, 86, of Vincennes, was flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after the crash for both his suspected internal injuries after the crash and his original health issue.
The deceased driver was identified as Deanna K. Mills, 66, of Hymera. She was driving a red two-door 1998 Ford Escort and was using a seatbelt.
It is unknown at this time if drugs and/or alcohol played a role in the crash. Traffic was slowed for nearly two hours for investigation and cleanup.
The crash was investigated by ISP Trooper B.J. Patterson. He was assisted by ISP Sgt. Tom Hannon, Trooper David Petrowski, ISP Crash Reconstructionists Detective Chris Carter and Trooper Brandon Mullen, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Sullivan County EMS, Sullivan County Coroner’s Office and the Sullivan Police Department.
