Spencer County Sheriff’s Department
Ran off road
Shannon Barnett, 38, of Philpot, KY, was westbound on SR 66 in Richland when, she later told authorities, she felt a pull to the left while driving and lost control of her 2004 Lexus GX470. Her vehicle then ran off the south side of the roadway, coming to rest in a ditch. According to the report, Barnett’s vehicle had blown-out tires on the driver’s side, which appeared to be the cause of the accident. Barnett was not injured in the March 2, 4:26 p.m. accident, but damage was estimated between $2,500-5,000.
Backing accident in parking lot
While attempting to help another motorist jump-start their vehicle in the Grandview Circle S parking lot, 74-year-old Phyllis Cottrell of Grandview tried to reposition her 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche in a better location and accidentally struck a 2019 Toyota Camry behind her. The driver of the Camry, 91-year-old John Varner, also of Grandview, told police he did not realize Cottrell was attempting to back up and assumed she was still parked. Neither driver was injured in the March 6, 4:09 p.m. accident. Damages were estimated between $2,500-5,000.
Driving without headlights leads to head-on collision
A deputy responded to a two-vehicle accident with injuries on SR 66 near Luce Elementary at 6:13 p.m. on March 6. Upon arriving at the scene, the deputy found one of the drivers, 50-year-old Anthony Austin of Owensboro, KY, unconscious but breathing in his vehicle. After waking, Austin explained he turning left into a driveway on SR 66 when his 2000 Ford Taurus was struck by a 2012 Ford Escape in the other lane. An investigation, which included a surveillance video of the crash as well as a witness, determined the driver of the Ford Escape, 66-year-old Vicky Versteeg of Poseyville, was driving without her headlights on at the time of the collision, making it impossible for Austin to see her vehicle approaching. Austin was transported to Owensboro Hospital for immediate medical attention, while Versteeg was transported to St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville. Both drivers agreed to submit to preliminary breath tests, with both testing 0.000. Versteeg was cited for driving without displaying headlights between the times of sunset and sunrise.
Ran off road
Matt Sherlock, 63, of North Augusta, SC, was southbound on CR 475 E when his 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche ran off the west side of the roadway, striking a ditch before coming to rest on its passenger side in a creek. Sherlock later told authorities he had looked away for a split second, causing him to run off the road. Damages in the March 11, 10:10 a.m. accident were estimated between $2,500-5,000. Sherlock was not injured.
