An 18-year-old Jennings County man died in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon near North Vernon.
Caleb M. Fish of North Vernon was pronounced dead at the scene of the wreck at U.S. 50 and State Road 750 by an official with the Jennings County Coroner’s Office, according to a report from Sgt. Stephen Wheeles with the Indiana State Police Versailles Post.
In an effort to improve overall traffic operation and make that intersection safer, the Indiana Department of Transportation conducted a public meeting in the fall of 2016 to discuss a proposal changing the intersection to a single-lane roundabout.
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At that time, there had been 27 wrecks, including one fatality, at the intersection since it opened in December 2013.
Gregory Green of Hayden was killed in June 2014 in a three-vehicle wreck at the intersection.
INDOT spokesman Harry Maginity said the roundabout project is in the works and a bid letting is scheduled for August with the intent for construction to be completed before the end of the construction season this year.
He said INDOT investigates any fatal wreck because one fatal wreck is too many.
A second roundabout on the east side of North Vernon where U.S. 50 meets State Road 750 is scheduled to open later this year. That portion of State Road 750 from State Road 3 remains under construction and also is schedule for completion in the fall.
Wheeles said Fish died after the gray 1995 GMC he was driving west on State Road 750 collided with a red 2004 Chevrolet pickup driven by Michael C. Furlong, 53, of Cynthiana, Kentucky. Furlong was driving west on U.S. 50 at State Road 750 at the time of the wreck about 3 p.m. Sunday and entered the path of Fish’s vehicle, Wheeles said.
Furlong and a female passenger sustained non-life- threatening injuries, and both were taken to St. Vincent Jennings Hospital in North Vernon for treatment, Wheeles said.
The Indiana State Police Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team investigated the wreck, which occurred in middle of the intersection of the two roads.
After impact, both vehicles left the north side of U.S. 50 before coming to rest, Wheeles said.
The cause of the wreck remains under investigation by the crash reconstruction team, which was assisted by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Jennings County Emergency Medical Services, Spencer Township Volunteer Fire Department, Jennings County Coroner’s Office, Seymour Mack and Hampton Towing.