Headlines • January 28, 2014
Weather causes accidents
The weather is being blamed for several crashes last week. One occurred on Thursday at 12:07 p.m. just east of Versailles on US 50. When deputies arrived on the scene, a 2003 Pontiac was on the embankment on the north side of the road having spun 180 degrees before resting in the ditch. Driver Scott Pavey of Dillsboro was not hurt, but reported the roadway conditions caused him to lose control. Another accident occurred Friday morning and involved a Batesville school bus. At 9:25, a Jeep driven by a 17-year-old struck a school bus near SR 229 on Evergreen Drive south of Batesville. Ripley County Sheriff’s deputy Ryan McKittrick arrived on the scene and reported that it appeared the vehicle was backing out of a private drive, failed to yield and struck the bus as it passed by. The teen driver told police he applied the brakes but slid on the ice and snow-covered driveway. There were no injuries on the bus, which was driven by Rhonda McQueen of Laurel. A 14-year-old passenger in the Jeep had a minor cut to his head and was not taken to the hospital. He was released to his parents at the scene.
Ripley County Sheriff Thomas Grills reminds citizens to use extra caution in the inclement weather as road conditions remain slick and hazardous for travel in certain areas. Saturday, the travel advisory for the county was upgraded to an orange watch level, meaning essential travel only. The area received about four more inches of snow.
Weekend activity
According to state police dispatch, on Saturday the Versailles Post reported 20 property damage accidents and two personal injury crashes. As of Sunday afternoon, they had four property damage crashes and one injury crash. Sgt. Noel Houze the most problematic road was I-65, but I-74 in Decatur County was also treacherous on Saturday. A travel advisory issued and weekend activities cancelled helped keep people off the roads.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO
Jerry Wickersham didn’t let a bunch of snow stop him from his regular exercise, at least not last Sunday, Jan. 19 when temperatures warmed up to the 30s! He was jogging through town in Milan, and was about two and a half miles into his run. He says the cold doesn’t bother him, and he likes jogging to clear his mind. Another Arctic blast was forecasted for the week with highs in the teens. Versailles and the surrounding area received about 4 inches of snow this past Saturday, with a travel advisory upgraded to a watch level.