Two drivers were injured in a head-on collision July 31 on State Road 46 West.
At 9:51 p.m., police received a report of a driver who was all over the road on 46 West. While Nashville Police Officer Abigail Beaver was on her way to find the driver, a crash was reported in the 1800 block of 46 West with unknown injuries, according to an accident report by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Stargell.
One of the vehicles involved in the crash was the 2003 Ford Escape that was reported to be swerving in the initial 911 call. The driver, 29-year-old Ethan Baird of Brown County, told police he was driving from Bloomington and kept falling asleep. Stargell reported smelling no alcohol on Baird. He said he had been awake since 7 a.m.
Chief Deputy Brad Stogsdill assisted the trapped driver in the other vehicle, 68-year-old Dolly Bradshaw of Bloomington. Stogsdill had to pull her through the driver’s side window, the report said.
Police had found Baird sitting on the ground near the driver’s side of his vehicle, according to the report. While providing information to police, Baird fell backwards near the rear wheel and began seizing. He lost consciousness and police conducted sternum rubs, the report said. A medical helicopter was called, along with a second EMS unit to treat Bradshaw, the report states.
Stogsdill canceled the request for a helicopter after Baird regained consciousness. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Bradshaw was taken to Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital for further treatment of a possible broken foot.
Officers reported that it appeared Baird’s vehicle went left of center and struck Bradshaw’s vehicle head on as she was driving west. Her vehicle then partially spun and struck an outbuilding at a home in the 1800 block of 46 West.
Three witnesses riding in the same car behind Baird, who were heading east from Bloomington, reported seeing Baird swerving and ultimately crossing the center line to strike Bradshaw’s vehicle head-on, according to the report. One of the witnesses was the person who called 911 initially.
On Aug. 1, Bradshaw told police that the top of her left foot and her left heel were fractured; that she had eight stitches in her left hand; and she had a fractured right ring finger.
She told police she was driving 40 to 45 MPH when she came over a hill crest and Baird’s vehicle was in her lane. She said she swerved to the right to try and miss it, but couldn’t do so in time, according to the affidavit.
Stogsdill ordered for Baird’s blood to be tested. Stargell reported calling the hospital that evening after the crash and was told that the test was not done, that there was a two-hour window for testing, and there was no more of Baird’s blood in the lab to test.
As of Aug. 6, no charges had been filed related to this crash.
