North Vernon man trapped in accident
US 50 closed over two hours
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Members of Versailles Truck 61 extrication team worked for over an hour to rescue a North Vernon man from a vehicle he was trapped upside down in on Sunday morning.

According to information from Deputy Thomas Grills of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department, the incident occurred sometime in the morning hours and was reported by a member of Rescue 69 on her way to work about 5:45 a.m. Sunday, December 11. The crash occurred on US 50 near County Road 400 W. between Holton and Versailles.

Bradley J. Grigsby, 23, of North Vernon, was the driver and for unknown reasons the Volkswagen Jetta he was operating left the roadway on the south side of the highway striking the guardrail. The vehicle, which was westbound, continued west, and struck a tree, then flipped end for end, coming to rest on its top against the concrete retaining wall of a bridge.

"We had to be extra careful due to the ice and snow on the ground," noted Chuck Gunter, fire fighter and extrication member. He said that the process was tedious due to the position of the person trapped and the icy conditions. "We wanted to make sure nothing slipped as we stabilized the vehicle. If it had, it could have been fatal for the person inside," he concluded.

Grigsby was taken by Rescue 69 to US 50 and Michigan Road intersection where Stat Flight helicopter landed to take him to a Louisville hospital.

According to Deputy Grills, US 50 was closed for approximately two hours due to the accident, which is still under investigation.

Assisting Deputy Grills at the scene were Holton Town Marshal Billey Moore; Ripley County Reserve Officer John Lord, Truck 61 which includes members of the Versailles, New Marion and Holton fire departments, Paramedic Unit, Task Unit 1, and McBrand, Inc. who was called to not only remove the vehicle, but to help stabilize it before the patient was removed.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

As Bradley J. Grigsby's life hung in the balance, members of Versailles Truck 61 Extrication unit worked to free him from this wrecked vehicle early Sunday morning. Employees of McBrand Inc. were lifting the car from the embankment it had come to rest on after it had struck a tree and flipped end over end on US 50 near County Road 400 N. between Holton and Versailles.