The Indiana State Police responded to a four-vehicle crash on U.S. 31 south of Seymour that claimed the life of a Scott County man.
The initial investigation by troopers with the Indiana State Police Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team indicated that just before 3 p.m. Wednesday, a 2005 Toyota Tacoma pickup being driven by Ronnie Brickley Jr., 43, of Scottsburg was traveling northbound on U.S. 31 south of County Road 275N, according to a news release from Sgt. Stephen Wheeles with the Indiana State Police.
For an unknown reason, Brickley’s vehicle crossed the centerline into the path of a southbound 2015 Kenworth dump truck being driven by Larry Pike, 74, of Seymour, said Wheeles, who is public information officer for the Versailles Post.
Brickley’s vehicle struck the side of Pike’s vehicle before it traveled into the path of a southbound 2020 Kenworth dump truck being driven by Nicolas Merritt, 31, of Seymour. Despite Merritt taking evasive action, Brickley’s vehicle and Merritt’s vehicle struck head-on. After the vehicles collided, Merritt’s vehicle left the roadway before coming to a stop. Brickley’s vehicle came to rest in the road.
A fourth vehicle, a 2007 Kia Sportage being driven by Lawanda Halfacre, 62, of Deputy, that was traveling northbound on U.S. 31 behind Brickley sustained minor damage when it was struck by debris.
Brickley sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office. Pike and Merritt were not injured in the crash, while Halfacre sustained minor injuries in the collision.
Both dump trucks were owned by King’s Trucking and Excavation Inc. of Seymour.
U.S. 31 was closed for approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors in the crash, but toxicology results are pending at this time. The investigation is ongoing.
Assisting at the scene were the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Crothersville Police Department, Jackson County Emergency Medical Services, Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department, Seymour Fire Department and 31 Wrecker Service.
Brickley’s death was the fifth fatality in the county reported since March 27.