2 vehicle crash in Jackson Co. sends 8 to hospital

JACKSON CO., Ind. (WISH) - A two vehicle crash in Jackson County sent eight people to the hospital early Saturday evening.

According to police, a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Jared Roark, 20, of Seymour was traveling eastbound on State Road 258 when a truck turned in front of him.

The 2009 GMC pickup truck driven by Kyle S. Halterman, 23, of Seymour was traveling westbound on SR 258 when he began to make a left turn into a private drive and turned in front of the Chevrolet Cobalt.

The Cobalt and the GMC truck collided head-on, injuring all the passengers in both vehicles.

Police say Roark suffered head injuries and broken bones and was taken to Schneck Memorial Hospital in Seymour.

Roark’s front seat passenger, a 16-year-old female suffered head injuries and one of the backseat passengers, Shaylee A. Zike, 18, from Freetown, IN suffered multiple injuries. Both were life-lined to University Hospital in Louisville, KY

The other three backseat passengers, Amber Nichole Blake, 18, from Seymour, and two females, ages 17 and 15, all suffered head injuries and were transported to Schneck Memorial Hospital in Seymour.

Halterman suffered abrasions and bruising and his passenger, Jill D. Halterman, 22, from Seymour suffered bruising and chest pain. Both were transported to Schneck Memorial Hospital in Seymour.

Police do not believe any of the back seat passengers in the Cobalt were restrained, but although no one was ejected, the fact the passengers were not restrained contributed to their injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.