Staff Reports
The Indiana State Police is investigating a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle that injured a Scipio man Monday morning in Jennings County.
Just before 11 a.m., state troopers and officers from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department responded to State Road 3 at County Road 675N for a report of a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle and a truck belonging to the Jennings County Highway Department, according to a news release from Sgt. Stephen Wheeles.
Upon arrival, responders found the motorcyclist, James Gholson, 66, of Scipio, in the roadway, said Wheeles, public information officer for the Versailles Post.
Gholson was treated by Jennings County EMS at the scene and then flown from a nearby landing zone by StatFlight to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of his injuries, which were described as serious by police.
The initial investigation by Trooper David Owsley along with the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team revealed Gholson had been traveling northbound on State Road 3 and started to slow down to turn west onto County Road 675N when he was struck from behind by a 2009 Chevrolet truck being driven by Mike Ponsler, 50, of Butlerville.
Gholson was ejected from his 2019 Harley-Davidson at the time of impact, and the motorcycle continued north before coming to rest off the east side roadway. Ponsler was uninjured in the crash.
The investigation is ongoing at this time. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors, police said.
Owsley was assisted by troopers from the Versailles Post and personnel with the North Vernon Fire Department and Lee’s Wrecker Service.