Spencer County Sheriff’s Department
Avoids deer, strikes tree
Mathew Gunn, 33, of Rockport, was northbound on CR 400W when, he later told police, he swerved to avoid striking a deer in the roadway and over-corrected, causing him to run off the road and strike a tree. His 2005 Ford Explorer then turned over on its side. Gunn was not injured in the December 28, 5:59 a.m. accident, but damages were estimated between $5,000-10,000.
Three vehicles involved in rear-end collision
David Bertke, 57, of St. Meinrad, was westbound on SR 66 in a Spencer County Solid Waste recycling truck when, he later told polie, he noticed two vehicles in front of him had stopped; Bertke advised he was unable to stop his truck in time and struck the back of a 2007 Ford Fusion driven by 16-year-old Katelyn Tindle of Richland. The impact pushed Tindle’s car into the back of a 2007 Hyundai Accent driven by 17-year-old Andrew Daming of Rockport. Daming’s vehicle then ran off the roadway. All three drivers refused medical treatment by EMS at the scene. Total damages in the December 29, 11:44 a.m. collision were estimated between $5,000-10,000.
Left turn collision
Daniel Valdez 62, of Cannelton, was preparing to turn left from SR 162 onto CR 950E near Santa Claus when, according to the report, he failed to yield to a northbound 1999 Nissan Sentra, causing the Sentra to strike Valdez’s 2001 Dodge Ram pickup. Neither Valdez nor the driver of the Sentra, 58-year-old George Blake of Tell City, were injured in the December 29, 5:13 a.m. collision. Total damages were estimated between $5,000-10,000.
Sideswipe
Kevin Barker, 59, of Chrisney, was westbound on Market Street when, he later told police, he became distracted and side-swiped a parked 2013 Chevrolet Silverado owned by Gregory Deller, also of Chrisney. Damages in the December 30, 10:02 a.m. accident were estimated between $1,000-2,500, and both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.
Driver charged with OWI after run-off
Robert Jones, 59, of Rockport, was northbound on SR 161, attempting to negotiate a left turn onto CR 300 S when he lost control and drove his 2008 Dodge Ram pickup off the road and into a ditch. When police arrived, Jones allegedly admitted to drinking; a preliminary breath test determined his blood alcohol content to be 0.145, leading to Jones being charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. A state blood draw on Jones is pending. According to the report, Jones advised police he had a provisional driver’s license but was unable to produce it and was unable to produce proof of insurance as well. Total damage in the January 5, 5:30 p.m. run-off is estimated to be between $2,500-5,000.
Injured driver transported to hospital after striking parked car
At approximately 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 5, 57-year-old Anitra Douglas of Owensboro, KY was southbound on SR 161 in Rockport when, she later told police, she fell asleep at the wheel and ran off the roadway. Her 1994 Buick Century traveled down an embankment before returning to the roadway and striking a parked 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the Spencer Auto Sales lot. The impact pushed the Jeep into two other parked vehicles in the lot, causing approximately $5,000-10,000 in damages. Douglas complained of pain in her ankle and hip and was transported by Spencer County EMS to Owensboro Regional Health for treatment.
