Boy thrown from van onto I-69, survives

ANDERSON, Ind. (The Herald Bulletin) - A three-year-old boy was thrown from a van during an Interstate 69 accident Thursday at about 5 p.m. He landed in the middle of the highway, but suffered no life threatening injuries, an Anderson Police Department spokesman said.

"He's going to be alright, just a broken collar bone," said Sgt. Bill Casey. "That's a miracle."

Casey said Christy M. Jenson, 32, was driving home to McCordsville from Ft. Wayne when she suddenly lost control of her 2003 Dodge Caravan at the 26 mile-marker.

The van fishtailed and bounced off of the median guardrail three times before coming to a stop, according to police.

The child was flung through a rear window onto the highway, Casey said, into the path of a semi-truck driver and about 1,000 feet from where the van came to rest.

"He was able to stop his truck, braking hard, to avoid hitting the kid," Casey said.

Casey said unidentified good Samaritans should be thanked for helping stabilize the child until emergency personnel arrived. The boy could be heard over the police scanner crying loudly.

No one else was injured, according to police.

Deputy Chief Dave Cravens, a spokesman for the Anderson Fire Department, said the child was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital. Police were informed at about 9:45 p.m. that the toddler would be OK, Casey said.

Police do not suspect drugs or alcohol, and are looking into a possibility that a medical condition caused Jenson to crash, Casey said. Three other children in the van were buckled in their seats, Casey said, leading police to suspect that the toddler may have unbuckled his seat belt.

Two other accidents Thursday closed portions of Interstate 69 in the Madison County area, but police say motorists in each case escaped serious injury.

Thanks to the Anderson Herald Bulletin for this story.