Troopers from the Indiana State Police Versailles Post responded to a three-vehicle head-on crash on U.S. 50 in western Jennings County that claimed the life of two people in one vehicle.
The initial investigation by troopers with the post’s crash reconstruction team indicated that a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, being driven by Halle S. Elliott, 19, of Louisville, Kentucky, was traveling eastbound on U.S. 50 near County Road 575W between Seymour and North Vernon after 8 a.m. today.
For an unknown reason, Elliott’s vehicle crossed the center line into the path of a westbound 2014 Freightliner semi pulling a trailer, being driven by Jacob E. Hyman, 28, of North Vernon.
Elliott’s vehicle struck the rear of Hyman’s trailer. The collision caused Elliott’s vehicle to turn sideways into the path of a westbound 2019 Ford Edge being driven by Robert A. Keener, 54, of North Vernon.
The front of Keener’s vehicle struck the passenger side of Elliott’s vehicle. Keener’s vehicle came to stop in the westbound lanes of U.S. 50. Elliott’s vehicle overturned, coming to rest off the north side of the road.
Elliott and her front seat passenger, Skyler S. Short, 20, of Hanover, sustained fatal injuries in the collision. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office. Hyman and Keener were not injured in the crash.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing by the crash reconstruction team. Toxicology results are pending.
U.S. 50 remained closed for approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Jennings County Emergency Medical Services, Spencer Township Fire Department, Jennings County Coroner’s Office and 31 Wrecker Service.