Milan teen air lifted to hospital following crash

Wanda English Burnett, Editor

A Milan teen sustained multiple trauma after she was involved in a crash at the intersection of S.R. 101 and U.S. 50 Friday afternoon, July 17.

According to information from Sgt. Noel Houze Jr. of the Indiana State Police Versailles District, Ashley Yates, 19, of Milan, was southbound on S.R. 101. After stopping at the intersection, she proceeded to pull onto U.S. 50 into the path of a westbound vehicle being operated by Sabrina Lazenby, 19, of Holton.

Yates was driving a 2000 Toyota Celica when she was broadsided by a 1998 Dodge Durango, operated by Lazenby, who was traveling westbound on U.S. 50.

Police say both vehicles traveled across the median into the eastbound lanes of U.S. 50 where the Dodge came to rest in the eastbound passing lane. The Toyota continued off the south side of the roadway into the edge of a cornfield where the driver (Yates) was trapped inside.

Yates was extricated from her vehicle by members of the Milan Fire Department and then air lifted to University Hospital in Cincinnati for multiple trauma. Two passengers in Yates’ vehicle, Danielle Yates, 16, and Eleanor Roder, 15, were treated at the scene by EMTs for minor abrasions. They were later transported by personal vehicle to a local hospital.

Lazenby was transported to the Dearborn County Hospital in Lawrenceburg for non-life threatening injuries.

According to witnesses at the scene, a box truck was westbound on U.S. 50 slowing to make a right onto S.R. 101 at the time of the crash, which may have obstructed Yates’ view of other westbound traffic.
U.S. 50 was only shut down for about 15 minutes to allow the helicopter to land.

The crash is being investigated by Trooper Brent Miller of the Indiana State Police. He was assisted at the scene by numerous other state police personnel. Also assisting were: Milan Police Department, Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, Milan Fire Department, Milan Rescue 30, Rescue 69 and Ripley County Medic. The crash is still under investigation.


SUBMITTED PHOTO
Milan firefighters work to free the driver of this 2000 Toyota Celica after she was involved in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of S.R. 101 and U.S. 50 Friday, July 17.