On Tuesday, at 7:20 p.m., Indiana State Police Sergeant Cory Robinson responded to a multi-vehicle accident on US 231 near US 40.

A four-vehicle accident involving a semi-tractor trailer and three passenger vehicles resulted in two individuals to hospitals in Indianapolis, via air ambulance.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Shylor Clark, 30, of Spencer, and was traveling southbound on US 231.  Clark was texting and driving, causing him to drift to the west side of US 231, running off the roadway.  He overcorrected, traveling back into the northbound lanes of US 231, sideswiping a northbound 2011 Freightliner that was driven by Nigel Leach, 57, of College Park, Georgia.  This collision caused the semi tractor-trailer to become disabled due to damage to the rear tandems. 

Two other vehicles were involved in secondary accidents. A Pontiac Vibe driven by Nadine Pursel, 71, of Spencer,  was traveling northbound on US 231 directly behind the semi tractor-trailer, and a GMC Sierra, driven by Charles Hall,  64 of Bradenton, Florida, was traveling southbound on US 231 directly behind the Chevrolet Cruze.  Both Pursel and Hall witnessed the original accident and made evasive maneuvers to avoid becoming directly involved.  These maneuvers caused both vehicles to travel off the east and west side of US 231 and into the ditch.

Shylor Clark, driver of the Chevy Cruz, and Richard Pursel, 77, a passenger from the Pontiac Vibe, were transported to hospitals in Indianapolis via air ambulance.  Injuries are non-life-threatening.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Cloverdale Volunteer Fire Department, Greencastle Fire Department, Putnam County EMS, LifeLine, Stat Flight, INDOT, and Curtis Wrecker Service.