Spencer County Sheriff’s Department
Driver charged with OWI after crash
Mary Ransom, 36, of Chandler, was westbound on SR 70 near Grandview when, she later told police, she struck a patch of black ice and ran off the roadway, striking a ditch. While investigating at the scene, officers learned Ransom had allegedly been driving under the influence of alcohol. After failing standardized field sobriety tests and blowing a 0.10 BAC on a preliminary breath test, Ransom was transported to the Spencer County Law Enforcement Center for a certified breath test, which showed her BAC to be 0.135. Ransom was booked into the jail on a charge of operating while intoxicated and was later additionally cited for driving without financial responsibility. Damage to her 2005 Chevrolet Impala from the January 17, 9:15 a.m. crash was estimated to be under $1,000.
Rear-end collision
Perry Lutz, 61, of Grandview, was slowing in traffic on SR 66 near Rockport when his 2010 Chevrolet Silverado was struck from behind by a 2009 Dodge Avenger driven by 17-year-old Alexander Little of Cannelton. The impact pushed Lutz’s Silverado off to the side of the road. Little advised he did not notice Lutz had stopped. Neither driver reported any injuries in the January 19, 3:39 p.m. collision, but due to being a juvenile, Little was transported to the hospital by EMS to be checked out. Total damages were estimated between $10,000-25,000.
Ran off road
Wayne Griepenstroh, 45, of Lamar, was northbound on St. Peter’s Church Road near Santa Claus when, he later told police, he fell asleep at the wheel, went left of center and ran off the roadway before striking a concrete culvert. Griepenstroh was not injured in the January 16, 3:45 a.m. run-off, but damage to his 2008 Jeep Wrangler was estimated between $2,500-5,000.
Ice on road causes crash
Leon King, 52, of Tell City, was northbound on Fulda Shortcut Road, entering a curve, when his 2002 Mercury Mountaineer began to slide due to ice covering the roadway. His vehicle then spun around and crossed the lane of travel before running off the roadway and into a ditch. King was not injured in the January 18, 6 a.m. crash and damage to his Mountaineer was estimated to be less than $1,000.
Sideswipe
Hunter Bowling, 25, of Horse Cave, KY, was northbound on Main Street in Grandview when, he later advised police, he began to fall asleep and crossed the center line, side-swiping a southbound Ford F150 driven by 42-year-old Nick Neighbors of Grandview. Neighbors’ truck then struck a speed limit sign on the edge of the roadway, partially bending the sign, while Bowling’s 2013 Volvo S60 came to a rest off the roadway in a grassy area. Neither driver was injured in the January 19, 7:20 a.m. collision. Total damages were estimated between $5,000-10,000.
Driver cited after running through cattle fence
Taylor Cox, 28, of Grandview, was northbound on SR 245 when, he later told police, he lost control of his 2000 Ford Mustang due to possible black ice and ran off the east side of the roadway, running through a cattle fence. Cox was not injured but was issued a citation for operating a vehicle without financial responsibility. Total damage in the January 18, 6:34 a.m. accident was estimated between $2,500-5,000.
