Motorcyclist escapes serious injury
Five taken to area hospital following crash
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

"Both vehicles were coming right for me...I don't know how I'm here right now," noted Chuck Folz of Versailles, referring to an accident that saw five transported to the hospital.

Folz was sitting on his Harley Davidson motorcycle getting ready to turn on to US 50 from Performance Car Wash in Versailles, when a pickup truck driven by Albert Pearson, 82, of Madison, turned in front of a four-door sedan at the exact spot where Folz was.

Escaping with only a scratch on his leg, Folz said the vehicles collided, headed for him and then separated going around him. Folz, who serves as a Ripley County Commissioner, was able to make the lighthearted comment the day after saying, "I guess I'll be around four more years." He agreed he doesn't take life for granted any more.

According to Versailles Town Marshal Dave Adams, the accident occurred at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday morning, July 27, when the Pearson vehicle, a truck owned by Spring Hill Investments of Madison, turned into the oncoming path of a car driven by Patrick Trujillo, 18, of Versailles, at the Performance Car Wash entrance on US 50 in Versailles.

Marshal Adams noted that both drivers were transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville, along with three passengers, who were in the Trujillo vehicle. The car was owned by Trujillo's aunt, Roberta Peterson 44, who was a passenger in the back seat, along with her husband John Peterson, 52, who was in the front. Their daughter, Emily Nelson, 11, was a back seat passenger. All were treated and released, according to Marshal Adams.

Agencies responding to the scene along with Marshal Adams, included the Ripley County Sheriff's Department - Sheriff Bill Davison, Chief Deputy David Pippin, and Deputy
John Lord; Indiana State Police Sgt. Dan Goris; Versailles Fire and First Responders, Rescue 69, and Rescue 20.

Still shaken from his experience, Folz said he remained calm enough when the incident occurred to make the call for help to 911, and actually drove his motorcycle home after the fact. "I'm worried about the man who was injured in the pickup truck because he looked like he was hurt the worst," concluded Folz.

LAURA JOHNSON PHOTOS

Three police agencies responded to an accident on US 50 in Versailles on Tuesday, July 27, where five people were transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital for injuries. Versailles Fire & Extrication were called to the scene and both vehicles had the tops cut back to remove the people inside.