Three motorcyclists were transported to area hospitals after a pickup truck that had run into the rear of a car rotated into their lane. Troopers were called to SR 44 at 125 W. just before 12:30 p.m.
sunday afternoon for a report of a four vehicle crash.
The preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Jeff Culley indicates that a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by Bonnie Moore, 59, of Rushville, was stopped on SR 44 eastbound waiting to turn north (left) onto CR 125 W. A 2002 Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by Adelle Nuxoll, 17, of Holton, was eastbound on SR 44 approaching CR 125 W. and was unable to get stopped before hitting the Volkswagen Jetta from behind.
The impact caused the Tacoma truck to rotate to the right, and the bed of the truck swung into the westbound lane of SR 44 into the path of a line of passing motorcycles. A 1974 Harley Davidson Motorcycle being driven by Clayton Brown, 42, of Fairland, Indiana, hit the truck bed as it rotated into his lane and he and his passenger, Julie McKee, age 45, (address unknown) were ejected off the motorcycle.
The motorcycle behind Brown, a 2014 Indian driven by James Armstrong, 50, of Indianapolis, skidded on its side past the crashed vehicles into the ditch on the south side of SR 44. Armstrong was taken by ambulance to Rush County Hospital for complaint of pain.
Julie McKee was flown by medical helicopter to St. Vincent’s in Indianapolis with a head injury and other non-life threatening injuries. Clayton Brown was transported to St Vincent’s in Indianapolis by ambulance for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. None of the injured motorcyclists were wearing helmets.
The drivers of the passenger cars were uninjured.
Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash.
Trooper Culley was assisted in his investigation by Trooper Eric Downey, the Rushville City Police Department and the Rush County Sheriff’s Department.
