Jennings County authorities are saying that seat belts likely saved the lives of victims of a severe accident Wednesday afternoon.

A car driven by 37-year-old Trevor McIntosh of North Vernon was driving west at U.S. 50 and County Road 900W when his car crossed the centerline and struck an westbound car driven by 27-year-old Brian Douglas of Seymour, says Lt. Mike Mowery with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department. That was at about 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

McIntosh’s vehicle went off into a ditch where it rolled over several times before it struck a tree and then landed on its wheels. After being cut from the crashed car, McIntosh was flown by Stat Flight to Indianapolis with critical injuries.

A passenger in Douglas’ car, 27-year-old John Lawrence Jr. was also trapped in his vehicle. After he was freed, he was taken to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour with severe injuries, but they were not believed to be life-threatening, Mowery said. Douglas was treated for injuries at the scene and then released.

The accident remains under investigation.