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A nearly head-on crash Wednesday evening on Ind. 1 just north of Petroleum sent two people to the hospital—one in critical condition.
Jimmy A. Huffman, 63, Petroleum was airlifted by Lutheran Air to Lutheran Hospital. He suffered severe internal chest injuries as well as other injuries. He was listed in critical condition at Lutheran this morning.
William L. Frazier, 50, Muncie, suffered a broken lower left leg. He was transported by Wells County EMS to Bluffton Regional Medical Center in serious condition.
According to Indiana State Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Rodger Popplewell, the 5:29 p.m. accident happened as Frazier was northbound on Ind. 1 and Huffman was southbound.
Frazier apparently fell asleep at the wheel just as his 1998 Buick exited Petroleum, it crossed the centerline and slammed into the left driver’s side of Huffman’s car, caving in the entire left side. The collision was with such force that the entire left side of Huffman’s 1996 Chrysler buckled inward. The left front axle of Frazier’s Buick severed from the car and a part of it became embedded in the driver’s side door of Huffman’s car.
With the front axle broken, the Buick careened out of control across the centerline and sideswiped a state police car driven by Bobby Jackson, 33, Decatur. Jackson had a front row seat to the entire accident and witnessed it unfold just 150 feet ahead of him. One of the tires on the Buick—with a part of the suspension system still attached—rolled up and crashed into the front bumper of the state police car.
The Buick then continued off the left side of the road, sliding down about a four-foot embankment off the west side into the front yard of Ivan and Anna Holloway.
Meanwhile, Huffman’s car skidded out of control still heading southbound, but sideways. It also slid off the west side of the road about 75 yards south of the Buick, coming to a rest in the side yard of the Petroleum United Methodist Church, just north of trees on a parcel of property listed as being owned by Harley and Doris Lewis.
Jackson was not injured in the accident and immediately radioed for assistance. The Bluffton Fire Department Rescue unit, Nottingham Twp. Fire Department First Responders and two ambulances from Wells County EMS were dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters and medics worked together to free both drivers from their vehicles. Medics requested Lutheran Air for Huffman. The helicopter landed in the large grassy side yard of the church. First responders at the scene reported that Huffman suffered a collapsed lung.
The crash closed the highway to both lanes of traffic for nearly three hours.
Both the Buick and Chrysler were listed as total losses. The trooper car sustained an estimated $4,000 damage, but was drivable.
State trooper Matt Teusch is in charge of the investigation with assistance from Trooper Jason Ward and accident reconstructionist Master Trooper Kurt Jack. The accident remains under investigation.
The troopers were assisted at the scene by Sheriff Bob Frantz and deputies Jeff McClish and Randy Mounsey as well as several other troopers.
glenw@news-banner.com
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