Tribune staff reports

JENNINGS COUNTY

A Columbus man driving a pickup that hit a parked truck and building east of Seymour died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head before the crash, police report.

Jennings County Officer Kevin Hall witnessed the wreck, reported in the early morning hours Tuesday, involving a 2005 GMC truck, which hit a parked truck and the Biehle Electric Inc. building at 9605 U.S. 50 West, a mile east of the Jackson County line.

The man, who was alone, was traveling west in an eastbound lane of U.S. 50, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.

Hall, who was driving east, said he was forced to drive off the road to avoid a head-on collision with the pickup, which was heading directly toward his patrol car.

Police said the man’s truck also left the roadway, rolled several times and hit the parked truck and building. The truck came to rest on its wheels in the company’s parking lot.

Jennings County Coroner Gene Rudicel pronounced the man dead at the scene. An autopsy was completed by Dr. Wesley Whitler at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour.

Maj. Jerry Shepherd, Allen Ritchie and Jim Blevins assisted at the scene along with Jennings County Emergency Medical Services Rescue 20.

The Tribune does not identify suicide victims.