5:48 p.m. update
Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies and the Bartholomew County Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating a fatal accident reported at 12:11 p.m. Thursday at North U.S. 31 and West County Road 800N.
Dispatch advised deputies that there was a male with significant injuries on scene as a result of being struck by a vehicle. Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim had stopped to assist another motorist with their disabled vehicle.
While assisting the motorist, the victim was struck by another vehicle causing injuries that resulted in death.
The Bartholomew County Accident Reconstruction team is currently investigating the collision. There is no further information to be released at this time.
4:30 p.m. update
One person was killed in a collision on southbound U.S. 31 near the Indiana Premium Outlets Thursday.
Two dark-colored pickup trucks were involved in the 12:11 p.m. crash, just south of County Road 800N. Traffic on both northbound and southbound lanes were rerouted onto Executive Way and Presidential Lane to 800N while first responders were on the scene.
U.S. 31 was reopened to traffic shortly before 4 p.m.
While Edinburgh Police Chief Doyne Little and town officer Clay Morgan were among the first at the scene, Little stressed the investigation was under the jurisdiction of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s office.
An IU Health Lifeline helicopter landed on the northbound lanes at the accident site in front of Truck Service Inc. It landed at about 12:50 p.m. and departed at about 1:25 p.m. But initial reports indicate the victim was pronounced dead at the scene and the helicopter did not transport anyone. The Bartholomew County Coroner’s office was called to the scene.
At about 3 p.m., Bartholomew County Sheriff”s spokesman Sgt. Dane Duke made a brief statement that emphasized the investigation is ongoing.
“A subject was on the side of the road assisting a disabled vehicle, and unfortunately was stuck by another vehicle, which resulted in a fatality,” Duke said.
A man who claims to have witnessed the accident says it appeared the first pickup was hauling a trailer carrying an engine that fell off onto the highway. It was while the victim was trying to move the engine that he was struck by the other southbound truck, the witness said.
When asked if that account was accurate, Duke said that “I’m not confident in that amount of detail when the investigation is ongoing. But the (Indiana State Police) accident reconstruction team is here, and they will gather all the available facts.”
With new manufacturers locating in the vicinity. congestion at the intersection of County Road 800N and U.S. 31 has long been a safety concern of both law enforcement, the town of Edinburgh and the Indiana Department of Transportation.
Morgan said Thursday’s fatal crash does not appear to be the result of heavy traffic at the intersection.
1:50 pm update
EDINBURGH — Edinburgh police say one person is dead following an accident just south of County Road 800N in the southbound lanes of U.S. 31.
The accident was reported at about 12:20 p.m. Thursday and involved two pickup trucks, one with a trailer. Lifeline Helicopter was called to the scene and arrived at 12:50 p.m. and departed from the scene at 1:25 p.m.
The accident and continuing investigation did block traffic in the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 31, and traffic is being diverted off U.S. 31 at the scene.
This story will be updated.
Original story
US 31 is closed in both directions due to a serious accident in the area of Presidential Way north of Indiana Premium Outlet Mall south of Edinburgh, according to Republic reporter Mark Webber, who was on the scene at about 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Webber said traffic in the area was being rerouted.
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Dane Duke said a serious bodily injury accident had taken place on US 31 near County Road 800 North. He said Lifeline was transporting an injured person from the scene. Duke could not immediately confirm that the highway was closed in both directions at the location, but he said southbound lanes were closed.
This story will be updated as further details become available.
