Spencer County Sheriff’s Department
Ran off road
Aaron Weaver, 20, of Leopold, was northbound on US 231near Dale in a 2017 Ford Focus when, he later told police, he began feeling extremely tired and ran off the roadway. He then struck a guardrail. Weaver was not injured in the November 1, 12:45 a.m. accident, but total damages were estimated between $2,500-5,000.
Left turn collision
Amanda Bowman, 37, of Robards, KY, was westbound on CR 2100 N near Dale when, according to the report, a 1996 Ford F250 driven by 59-year-old Ralph Wilmes of Ferdinand pulled out of a driveway and into her path, causing the two vehicles to collide. Wilmes later reported that, due to trees in his line of sight, he did not see the 2001 Freightliner Bowman was operating before pulling out. Neither driver was injured, but a passenger in Bowman’s vehicle, 33-year-old Ashley Oneal of Evansville, was transported to the hospital for treatment of her injuries. Total damages in the November 4, 10:26 a.m. collision were estimated between $10,000-25,000.
Ran off road
Christina Herp, 32, of Tell City, was southbound on US 231 near Chrisney when, she later told authorities, she became extremely tired and traveled off the roadway. Her 2007 Toyota Camry then traveled across a ditch before striking several trees. Herp was not injured in the November 5, 8:24 p.m. accident, but damage to her car was estimated between $5,000-10,000.
Driver arrested for OWI after crash
A Grandview man was charged with operating while intoxicated after a collision near Rockport Friday evening, November 6. Ernie Thorpe, 62, was eastbound on SR 66 when, he later told police, he noticed someone lying in the roadway. Thorpe said he swerved to avoid hitting the person, causing him to lose control of his 2003 Chevrolet Impala and hit a guardrail. EMS transported the pedestrian, 41-year-old Kristopher Goffinet of Rockport, to Owensboro Hospital for treatment of head injuries. Thorpe, who was not injured in the crash, was transported to Perry County Memorial Hospital, where a blood draw showed he had amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates and cannabinoids in his system. Thorpe was then taken to the Spencer County Law Enforcement Center on misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person; operating a vehicle while intoxicated; and operating a vehicle with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the body. A nurse later reported to police that Goffinet’s injuries were not consistent with being struck by a motor vehicle. Thorpe’s Impala sustained between $5,000-10,000 in damage and was towed from the scene.
Vehicle rolls over after running off roadway
Joshua Miller, 18, of Ferdinand, was southbound on SR 162 near Dale when, he later told police, he ran off the road to avoid striking an animal in the roadway. His 2004 Nissan Murano then traveled up an embankment before rolling over onto its driver’s side. Miller was not injured in the November 8, 11:25 p.m. accident, but total damages were estimated between $10,000-25,000.
Sleepy driver
Nathan Norris, 16, of Jasper, was northbound on SR 62 near Gentryville when, he later told police, he fell asleep and ran off the roadway, striking a guardrail. His 1996 Toyota 4Runner then flipped and traveled into a ditch before rolling over. Norris was not injured in the November 8, 5:10 a.m. crash, but total damage to his vehicle was estimated between $2,500-5,000.
Five vehicles involved in rear-end collision
Daniel Goffinet, 56, of Tell City, was stopped in the westbound lane of SR 66 near Grandview due to road construction when his 2014 Chevrolet Impala was struck from behind by a 1992 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by 27-year-old Zachary Settle of Evansville. The impact pushed Goffinet’s car into the back of a 2019 GMC Yukon driven by 42-year-old Christina Parsley of Rockport, which pushed her into the back of a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 38-year-old Jamie Truitt of Evansville. Goffinet’s vehicle also went left of center as a result of the impact, causing him to hit head-on a 2019 Toyota Tacoma driven by 60-year-old William Roberts of Newburgh. Goffinet, the only driver injured in the November 7, 10:20 a.m. collision, had to be transported to the hospital for treatment. Total damages were estimated between $25,000-50,000.
