[Jerry Shaw]

http://www.tribstar.com/local/local_...149225053.html

TH man arrested after tractor crash

The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — At 6:50 a.m. Friday, Indiana State Police Troopers responded to a report of a farm tractor pulling an inverted passenger car, eastbound on Bluejay Road near Eppert Road in northeastern Vigo County. Troopers arrived minutes later and found the large farm tractor and car had traveled over the west side of a bridge at the intersection of Eppert Road and Bluejay Road. The driver of the farm tractor fled the scene after the crash.

Troopers received a tip that the driver was hiding at a nearby farm house on Rio Grande Road. Officers went to the residence and took the driver into custody without incident. He was identified as Kevin Michael Whitesell, 31, of Terre Haute. Whitesell was taken to the Vigo County Jail and incarcerated on preliminary charges of driving while intoxicated, a class-A misdemeanor, and leaving the scene of a property-damage crash, a class-C misdemeanor. This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges may be filed.

Preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Todd Miles found that at approximately 5 a.m. Friday, Whitesell had wrecked his 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier on Bluejay Road just west of Eppert Road. He then walked to a farm house on Rio Grande Road, approximately two miles from the scene, and obtained a 1998 John Deere 9100 Series four-wheel driver tractor. Whitesell then drove back to his car on Bluejay, hooked the overturned car to the tractor and began dragging the car (on it’s top) eastbound on Bluejay. As Whitesell attempted to make a right turn onto Eppert, he lost control and drove the tractor over the west side of the bridge, dragging the car with it. The tractor was owned by Plant Farms and the owner of the car was Whitesell.

Vigo County Emergency Management Director Dr. Dorene Hojnicki was on the scene to examine the flowing waters of the north branch of Otter Creek for any fuel or oil loss from the overturned tractor. Her initial assessment was very minimal amounts of fluids were lost and pose no potential threat to the environment.

The bridge sustained minimal structure damage and Vigo County Highway Engineer Neil Costello anticipated the bridge would be partially open by Friday afternoon after temporary supports were in place.

The ******** investigation was handled by ISP Detective Hans Nowak, overturned tractor crash by Master Trooper Miles and the earlier one-car crash by Trooper Chip McKee. They were assisted by other ISP troopers and detectives; Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, Vigo County Office of Emergency Management, Vigo County Highway Engineers Office, Duke Energy and Misco Crane Rental.

[Bill Gardner]

Originally Posted by Jerry Shaw http://www.tribstar.com/local/local_...149225053.html The ******** investigation was handled by ISP Detective Hans Nowak, overturned tractor crash by Master Trooper Miles and the earlier one-car crash by Trooper Chip McKee. They were assisted by other ISP troopers and detectives; Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, Vigo County Office of Emergency Management, Vigo County Highway Engineers Office, Duke Energy and Misco Crane Rental.

All because of ONE drunk fella... wow!

[TeamCGR]

Now that's a Bad Day. Sounds like he could be charged with "Grand Theft Tractor" too...

[agar]

That sounds like a normal day in the Tri County Area (Clay,Parke & Vigo)