By MATT THACKER
An 18-year-old from Louisville was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after a head-on collision that injured five people in northern Floyd County.
The Floyd County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call at approximately 11:20 p.m. Thursday reporting a head-on crash on Ind. 111 near Chapel Lane. First responders located five victims, and one was reported to have critical injuries, according to a press release from Indiana State Police Trooper Dave Scott.
A preliminary investigation by the Floyd County Combined Accident Reconstruction Team, or CART, found that a gray Mitsubishi passenger car being driven by Ryan Whitenack was traveling southbound on Ind. 111 when it crossed the center line and struck a northbound blue Chevrolet sport utility vehicle.
Alexandria Denny, 19, of Bedford, and Benjamin Nally, 18, of Louisville, both passengers in the Mitsubishi, were taken to University Hospital in Louisville with head injuries. Denny, who is listed in serious condition, was not wearing a seat belt.
Tamara Barton, 45, of Borden, the driver of the SUV, was taken to Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services with a broken arm. Roger Barton, a passenger in the SUV, complained of chest pain and was also transported to Floyd Memorial.
Whitenack was treated at the scene and was then arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. He was transported to the Floyd County Jail.
Whitenack is scheduled for an initial hearing in Floyd County Superior Court No. 1 on Tuesday. He is being held in the Floyd County Jail on $100,000 court cash or surety bond.
The investigation is ongoing, and toxicology results are pending.
