Spencer County Sheriff’s Department
Driver arrested after vehicle pursuit, crash
At approximately 6:30 p.m. on October 23, an officer with the Santa Claus Police Department initiated a traffic stop on SR 245, but the driver of the 2004 Ford Crown Victoria allegedly failed to stop, leading to a vehicle pursuit during which an officer with the Spencer County Sheriff’s Department assisted. The driver of the Ford eventually ran off the roadway at a high rate of speed, at the intersection of SR 62 and CR 700 E near Dale, and struck a stop sign before his vehicle came to rest in a tomato garden. An investigation uncovered that the Ford was not registered in the state of Indiana, the license plate did not belong to it, and insurance was not provided. The driver, identified as 25-year-old Michael Bickett of Hawesville, KY, was not injured but was arrested on multiple charges, including resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness and reckless driving, along with other citations. Total damages in the collision were estimated between $5,000-10,000.
Injury and citation after rear-end collision
James M. Boyd, Jr., 40, of Rockport, was attempting to turn right into a driveway off of SR 161 when the Hopper trailer he was pulling was struck from behind by a 2000 Dodge Dakota driven by 84-year-old Chalmer Burden of Petersburg. According to Boyd and a witnesses at the scene, Burden was traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision and making bad passes on the roadway. Burden had to be extricated from his vehicle and was transported to a hospital for treatment of his injuries; he was also cited for improper passing on the right and reckless driving. Boyd was uninjured. Total damages in the October 22, 12:28 p.m. collision were estimated between $25,000-50,000.
Ran off road
Ayron Roark, 20, of Tell City, was southbound on Fulda Shortcut when, she later told police, she lost control of her 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix and ran off the roadway. Her car then struck a ditch and rolled over before coming to rest on its wheels. Roark was examined by EMS at the scene but refused to be transported to the hospital. Total damage in the October 21, 3:08 a.m. accident was estimated between $5,000-10,000.
Crash leads to arrest for outstanding warrant
Clifford Edge, 43, of Owensboro, KY, was traveling on CR 300 N near Grandview when, he later told police, he ran off the roadway and struck a ditch line. The deputy who responded to the accident ran Edge’s information and discovered he had a parole warrant issued through the state of Kentucky. Edge, who was not injured in the crash, was placed into custody without incident and transported to the Spencer County Law Enforcement Center; he was also issued a citation for driving while suspended. Damage in the October 20, 7:12 a.m. crash was estimated to be under $1,000.
Rear-end collision
Valerie Elliott, 61, of Santa Claus, was attempting to make a left turn off SR 62 onto CR 1425 N when her 1994 Ford Mustang was struck from behind by a 2014 Ford F150 driven by 52-year-old Wayne Brinkman of Dale. The force of the collision caused Elliott’s car to spin around and strike a nearby guardrail. Elliott was transported to Owensboro Regional Health for contusions to her head and complaint of shoulder pain. Brinkman refused medical treatment at the scene. Total damage in the October 22, 12:05 p.m. collision was estimated between $5,000-10,000.
Five vehicles, two collisions at once
Nestor Castro Cruz, 34, of Houma, LA, was westbound on SR 66 near Grandview, attempting to make a left turn into a driveway at Corn Island Ship Yard, when his 2015 Toyota Corolla was struck from behind by a 2010 Ford Mustang driven by 26-year-old Steven Neel of Owensboro, KY. The impact caused Cruz’s car to spin in the roadway and strike the driver’s side trailer area of a westbound 2000 International Truck tractor driven by 55-year-old Thomas Harrison. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Noah Edelen of Owensboro was also traveling westbound on SR 66 at the time of the accident, and when he slowed down due to the collision that had occurred in front of him, his 2010 Dodge Nitro was rear-ended by a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 driven by 18-year-old Bryce Hudson, also of Owensboro. According to the report, SR 66 between CR 800 E and SR 70 junction was shut down for roughly one hour due to the dangerous area and dark, rainy weather conditions and debris in the roadway after the collisions. None of the five drivers were injured in the October 27, 5:59 a.m. collisions, but total damages were estimated between $25,000-50,000. Castro Cruz was cited, however, for driving with a suspended license.
