Columbus police are investigating a fatal accident Monday morning where a semi hit a pedestrian on U.S. 31.

34-year-old Vivianna S. Williamson, of Columbus was struck and killed at about 6:50 a.m. Monday morning in the area of U.S. 31 and South Line Drive.

Columbus police say that she was in the right southbound lane of the highway when she was struck by a semi pulling a trailer driven by 61-year-old Steven E. Dickey of Whiteland. He was uninjured.

The crash remains under investigation.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers and his son were injured in a crash yesterday morning on Goeller Boulevard and Tipton Lakes Boulevard.

Columbus police say that Myers was driving on Goeller Boulevard in his patrol car at about 7:38 a.m. when a van driven by 30-year-old Bladimir Lopez Martinez of Indianapolis ran a stop sign and struck the patrol car in the rear driver’s side.

Myers and his 15-year-old son were taken to Columbus Regional Hospital, treated and released. The sheriff’s 13-year-old son was also in the car at the time and he was checked by paramedics at the scene.

Indiana now has 11,686 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, an increase of 476 cases since Sunday’s total, and has had 569 deaths as of Monday afternoon’s update, an increase of 7 deaths from yesterday’s numbers.

The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting that Bartholomew County has 140 confirmed cases an increase of 4 cases since yesterday. There have been 6 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, unchanged since last week. There have been 990 Bartholomew County residents tested with 697 negative results and 111 tests still pending.

In other area counties, Decatur has 168 cases and has had 18 deaths. Jennings 64 cases and 1 death, Jackson 89 cases and no deaths, Brown 14 cases and 1 death, Johnson 426 cases and 33 deaths, and Shelby 111 cases and 4 deaths.

Governor modifies “hunker down Hoosiers” order

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today issued a revised Stay At Home order that lasts through May 1 and is designed to limit interactions among Hoosiers to increase containment of COVID-19. As of today, 11,686 people have tested positive and 569 people have died from the disease in Indiana. There are now positive tests in 92 of 92 counties. Click here to see the executive order: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

As a part of this action, Gov. Holcomb also extended through May 1 the orders that limit in-person public activity at state government offices and put restrictions on the operation of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

“I want to thank Hoosiers in every corner of our state who have stayed socially-distanced and hunkered down. Lives are being saved, and we’re slowing the spread,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Continuing the course at this time is essential to flattening the curve while we also prepare to safely reopen Indiana for business.”

While the Stay At Home order chiefly continues as is, EO 20-22 brings clarity to some essential businesses.

• As long as sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), staff and other supplies are available for the COVID-19 response, hospitals should conduct medically necessary procedures, such as those determining cancer diagnosis and cardiac issues, respiratory procedures, and procedures to reduce significant pain or symptoms making quality of life unacceptable.

Any restrictions involving medical procedures will be evaluated every seven days for appropriate and timely modifications that could be implemented.

• Permitted outdoor activity as described in the executive order includes yard work, gardening, planting and landscaping at residential, commercial and industrial properties and farms.

Nurseries and garden centers may be open for business as long as they limit the number of customers in their facility at any given time to achieve the Centers for Disease Control’s required social distancing, limit their hours of operation and consider implementing separate operating hours for the elderly and other vulnerable customers, and comply with the social distancing, sanitation and other mitigation measure to protect its employees and the public.

• Pet grooming at a pet salon, store or mobile unit is permitted.

The Critical Industries Hotline continues to be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to respond to business and industry questions about whether a business is considered essential. The center may be reached by calling 877-820-0890 or by emailing covidresponse@iedc.in.gov

Answers to frequently asked questions and instructions to file for COVID-19-related unemployment are available at Unemployment.IN.gov.

A link to the updated Stay-At-Home Order FAQ may be found here: https://www.in.gov/gov/3232.htm Please refer to this FAQ page for guidance and clarifications.

More information may be found at the ISDH website at coronavirus.in.gov and the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has extended his executive order requiring Hoosiers to stay-at-home through May 1st, but the new order does relax some restrictions.

Holcomb said that the new order would allow for some elective surgeries and other medically necessary procedures to begin again, as long as sufficient amounts of personal protective equipment are available.

The order also clarified permitted outdoor activities to include yard work, gardening and lansdscaping at both residential and business properties. It also clarifies that nurseries and garden centers to remain open as long as social distancing is maintained. Those businesses also should limit hours of operation, allow separate shopping hours for the elderly or vulnerable and comply with other measures to protect employees and the public.

Holcomb said opening up the entire state will be a methodical process making sure we have the medical capabilities in place to do it safely. He has been consulting with business groups and that has been a consistent message, he said.

Holcomb credited Hoosiers with their efforts that has helped slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The entire executive order is available here. 

A Columbus man suspected of breaking into vehicles downtown was found early this morning carrying a camera stolen from a vehicle.

Columbus police say that an officer on an extra patrol downtown noticed a vehicle with the trunk left open in the 400 block of Third Street, and saw a man leaving the area on a bicycle at about 5:20 this morning.

The owner of the vehicle said a camera was missing and police soon caught up with the bicyclist, 31-year-old Ryan M. Melloh of Columbus. A search recovered the missing camera in his backpack and methamphetamine in his clothing. He was arrested on preliminary charges of theft and possession of methamphetamine.

Seymour police are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins in the Emma Drive and Holiday Drive areas.

After canvassing the neighborhood, officers retrieved several captured surveillance camera images of a person of interest pulling on door handles in the area.

He is described as a slender white male traveling on foot. He appears to be in his 20’s approximately 6’2 160 lbs. He is wearing distinctive shoes and clothing and a skull bandana as shown in the surveillance footage. if you can identify him you should contact Seymour Police Department at 812 522-1234 . Or call the Seymour police dispatchers if you observe him in the area.