North Vernon woman dies in two-vehicle crash

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A North Vernon woman died after two vehicles collided near the Jackson-Jennings county line, police said.

The accident happened shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, said Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, public information officer for the Indiana State Police Versailles Post.

A 2006 Ford Explorer driven by Sharlene R. Whitsell, 59, of Seymour was traveling east on County Road 800N near County Road 1300E when her vehicle went into the path of a northbound 2003 Pontiac Montana being driven by Betty Lou Hicks, 42, of North Vernon, according to an investigation by Trooper Matt Holley and the Versailles Post crash reconstruction team.

Whitsell may have disregarded a stop sign prior to colliding with Hicks’ vehicle, Wheeles said.

The vehicles collided in the middle of the intersection before leaving the roadway with Hicks’ vehicle striking a tree before coming to a stop, he said.

Hicks was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office, Wheeles said.

Whitsell sustained minor injuries in the crash. She was transported to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, where she was treated for her injuries, he said.

Evidence at the scene indicated that Hicks was not wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred, Wheeles said. It is unknown if Whitsell was wearing a seat belt, he said.

Toxicology results are pending, but drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be factors in this crash, Wheeles said.

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