One woman was killed and three others were injured in a three-vehicle crash on State Road 46 East near Nelson Ridge Road Friday.
Jane Lyons, 54, of Anderson was deceased when first responders arrived at the scene just before 4 p.m. Nov. 9, Public Information Officer Josh Stargell with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department reported in a press release.
A 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, driven by Sheila Hendricks, 42, of Taylorsville, was driving west on 46 East when it struck the rear of a 2012 Hyundai Sonata driven by Eric Knechtel, 56, of Columbus, police said.
According to an accident report by Sgt. Scott Bowling, Hendricks’ husband told police that she had told him she looked up and saw Knecthel hit the brakes, but could not stop in time. Hendricks remembered striking something else, but couldn’t remember what after the airbags went off.
Det. Brian Shrader took Hendricks’ cell phone and will investigate a possible cause of the accident, the report states.
Hendricks’ vehicle left the westbound lane and struck an eastbound 2017 Chevrolet Cruze head-on, driven by Joy Watson, 59, of Chesterfield.
Watson was taken to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital by a medical helicopter for internal injuries to her entire body, the report states.
Her front-seat passenger, Baylee Bell, 22, of Anderson, was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital by ambulance for treatment of an internal abdomen/pelvis injury, the accident report states.
Lyons was in the backseat of that vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Earl Piper, the press release states. The accident report states that her death was due to a seat belt injury. Lyons was formerly the auditor of Madison County.
Hendricks was taken to Methodist by ambulance for treatment for a fractured or dislocated knee/lower leg/foot.
Knechtel refused treatment at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation pending toxicology results and a crash reconstruction report.
Indiana State Police, Brown County (Nashville) Volunteer Fire Department, Hamblen Township Volunteer Fire Department and Harrison Township Fire Department assisted at the scene.
