SUBJECT: Alcohol a Factor in Serious Injury Crash on N. Red Bank Road
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-NR-057
CONTACT: Major Noah Robinson
AUTHORITY: Sheriff David Wedding
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Sunday evening crash that sent two motorists to the hospital.
On Sunday, November 17 at approximately 7:30 PM the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a single vehicle crash in the 2000 block of North Red Bank Road near Barbara Jane Lane. Upon arrival, deputies found an overturned and severely damaged red 2000 Ford Ranger. The truck had rolled over and then snapped a utility pole into two pieces. The passenger of the vehicle had crawled from the wreckage and was treated by members of the Perry Township Fire Department. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Jake Ladd Wenderoth of Wadesville, IN, was still trapped in the vehicle and appeared unconscious.
Despite the vehicle being exposed to live utility wires, emergency responders from Perry Township Fire were able to free Mr. Wenderoth from the wreckage. Mr. Wenderoth and his passenger were both transported by AMR ambulance to Deaconess Midtown Hospital for treatment. Mr. Wenderoth sustained a serious head injury during the crash. The roadway was completely shut down into the early morning hours for repairs to the utility service.
Pursuant to state law regarding crashes involving serious bodily injury, Mr. Wenderoth was subject to a post-crash blood draw. The crash will remain under investigation pending final toxicology results. Preliminary results indicated that alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Pictured above: Crash Scene on N. Red Bank Road.
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