Several in hospital as traffic accident closes Newton St. in Jasper (Updated)
Update Wednesday, July 18:
The state police investigator has determined the front steering brakes on the tow truck involved in the July 2 traffic accident were inoperative at the time of the accident.
The tow truck belongs to the Craney’s Body Shop in Washington. On Wednesday a representative at the business stated they would not comment on the case until after “everything was over”.
Update from Thursday, July 12:
The driver of the tow truck involved in the six vehicle accident on Monday, July 2, is facing two misdemeanor counts tomorrow in the Dubois County Circuit Court.
Frederick D. Craney, 58, of Washington, is charged with Criminal Recklessness with a Vehicle (class A misdemeanor) and Reckless Driving (class B Misdemeanor) in addition to the two traffic citations he received for Disregarding a Traffic Signal and Speeding.
Craney ran a red light at the intersection of Newton and 15th St. as he was driving south on Monday, July 2. He swerved to miss one vehicle in the intersection but stuck another flipping it over and then careened through several other vehicles including a moped before finally coming to a rest.
The scene was a horrific one as many bystanders came to the aid of the fire department and first responders. Although several of the motorists were severely injured, none succumbed to those injuries and are recovering at this time. From information the Free Press could gather, all or most have been released from the hospital; two the same day of the accident.
The road was closed for several hours for the investigation and cleanup. The property damages in the accident are estimated to be around $40,000.
According to the affidavit, Craney was very distraught at the hospital after the accident and is very shook up by the incident.
Craney is represented by Washington attorney Michael D. Chestnut, who stated the 2006 Freightliner was a new truck at Craney’s Body Shop and a new air brake system had been installed recently. It has been inspected by Indiana State Police but the full report has not been released yet.
Original story from July 2:
On Monday evening five six vehicles were involved in an accident that closed Newton Street between 14th and 15th Streets and sent seven five people to the hospital.
At around 6:10 p.m., a Freightliner tow truck driven by 57-year-old Frederick Craney, of Washington, drove through the red light at the intersection of Newton and 15th Streets. As Craney drove through the intersection he swerved to miss a white pickup truck waiting to turn left from 15th to travel north on Newton. When Craney swerved he struck a 2009 Mazda car that was turning left to travel south on Newton. The Mazda, driven by 51-year-old Robert Young of Evansville, spun out of the intersection to the southeast corner.
Unable to stop the tow truck, Craney continued south into oncoming traffic and struck a 2005 Volkswagon driven by 19-year-old Makenzie Duncan, of Huntingburg, head on. Duncan turned 20 today. The Volkswagon was pushed into the the opposite lane and struck the front end of a 2005 Dodge driven by 39-year-old Sherri Dunning, of Jasper. The Dodge spun and then flipped over before coming to rest in the southbound lane of Newton.
The tow truck continued to push the Volkswagon through the lane and struck a moped driven by 25-year-old Osmin Serrano of Huntingburg.
After striking the moped, the tow truck hit the front end of a 2007 Dodge driven by 21-year-old Travis Englert of Ferdinand. He was behind the moped in the northbound lane.
The tow truck came to rest on top of the Volkswagon with Serrano trapped underneath between 1432 and 1430 Newton Street.
Duncan (Volkswagon driver) was extricated by Jasper Fire Department and transported to Memorial Hospital. She was later transported to St. Mary’s Hospital for non-life threatening injuries to her ribs. Holly Venekamp, the passenger in the Volkswagon, was transported to Memorial Hospital for lacerations to her face and legs.
Young (Mazda driver) was transported to Memorial Hospital and later transferred to an Evansville hospital for injuries to his head.
Dunning (Dodge driver) was transported to Memorial Hospital, treated and released.
Serrano (moped) was transported to Memorial Hospital and then transferred to an Evansville hospital for treatment of his internal injuries and his foot. According to his wife he is stable now but has many injuries including a broken leg and ankle and burns from the tow truck. He is also recovering from a collapsed lung and had to have two toes amputated.
Many local residents and business owners ran to help at the scene before first responders arrived and continued to help during the process of dealing with the injured and damaged vehicles.
The Freightliner had around $10,000 in damages. The driver was cited for Speeding too Fast to Avoid a Collision and Disregarding an Automatic Signal. The truck was towed to Ruxer Ford.
The 2009 Mazda, 2005 Volkswagon, 2005 Dodge, and moped were totaled in the accident.
The Dodge truck driven by Travis Englert had around $1500 in damages to its front end.
Uebelhor and Sons towed all of the passenger vehicles.
A utility pole was removed due to damages it sustained during the accident.
This corner is very bad for accidents including trucks.
Understand there are older and better engineered corners than others, just like streets in general everywhere, but corners themselves don't cause accidents. Rather, people cause accidents – by their choices to speed and tailgate, and in other situations to text, drink, and allow similar impedements and distractions under their control to have priority over driving responsibly.
Don't believe all you read… They give tickets for excesive speed and unable to avoid collision to anyone involved in this type of accident UNTIL they can fully investigate if there were any mechanical malfunctions. If this was a malfunction in the brake system then it was NOT a choice that a person makes that is why it is called an accident…The tow had just made a run with no complications so maybe everyone should wait and see what the investigation shows.
I was referring in general and with common sense to the information initially provided, which in the vast majority of cases there are no mechanical malfunctions of any consequence involved or responsible. Yes, there are exceptions – maybe this will turn out as such -but it's unlikely that any citations would have been issued at this point if the truck driver had indicated to authorities, or was unable to provide information because of his condition, that a significant mechanical problem(s) contributed to the accident.
Growing up right next to a highway, with a blind curve, I have seen what damage a semi (loaded or not) can cause and trust me i know that it would have been a lot worse if the driver was going any faster than the limit. I also know this area and the limit because I live very close to it now.
To further explain, about the theory of a brake malfunction, I will use the basic terms learned in a forensics class specifically about accident reconstruction. First look on the the hill and observe the short skid marks where the brakes were applied and worked for only a short time. Then think to yourself, if you applied your brakes and you skid you usually slide to a stop, with a long or decent length of skid mark. However, due to the absence of any long skids only the short burst, usually means that the brakes failed to completely work.
In finishing, the brake valve had just been replaced and further action is being done to put responsibility on the manufacturer for failure to sufficiently test this piece before it was returned to the operator.
There is no way a man would put him, his wife, and sooo many others in danger. This is the reason that i feel this was truly an accident due to brake malfunction.This is also why I am so passionate about this.
The photographs are great. Good job to J.R. Matheis!