Two motorists were flown to hospitals in the Indianapolis area after they were injured in a crash Monday morning.

Sheriff Michael Carothers told “The Tribune” in Seymour that the driver of a pickup sustained severe head injuries in the wreck, which occurred shortly before 7 a.m. on County Road 700 East, about three-quarters of a mile east of U.S. 31.

The Sheriff told the newspaper that the impact of the crash knocked the cab of the pickup off of the frame. He added that the driver had to be cut from the vehicle.

The driver of the other vehicle reportedly sustained a severe leg injury.

The identities of the people involved in the wreck have not been made available and the crash remains under investigation.

For more on this story, visit tribtown.com.

A Columbus man was arrested over the weekend after police say he was found in possession of a stolen gun. Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman, says that officers responded to a gas station in the 3100 block of National Road at about 2:20 p.m. Saturday after receiving information that someone was trying to sell the weapon. Harris says that 41-year-old William C. Cox was selling a handgun that was reported stolen earlier in the day. Once officers made contact with Cox, they noted that he was holding two cell phones, both of which were reported stolen. A short time later, Harris says that officers found the stolen .380 caliber firearm behind a bag of potato chips inside the store. After Cox was taken into custody, police reported finding three .380 caliber bullets in his pants pockets.

Cox was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft and Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day and is forecasting high ozone levels through Tuesday for our area. This includes:

Bartholomew County
Jackson County
Scott County
Brown County
Johnson County
Monroe County
Shelby County
Washington County

IDEM is encouraging you to take steps to reduce ozone. They suggest things such as carpooling, walking, biking, using public transportation, avoid using drive-throughs, combine errands into one trip, avoid refueling your vehicle until after 7 p.m., avoid using gas-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m., avoid extended idling in your vehicle, turn off unneeded lights at home and setting your air conditioner to 75 degrees or above.

IDEM says that people who are sensitive to air quality will be the most affected during this time. Officials add that children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outside.

A call about a reckless driver heading west on Tenth Street from Central Avenue in Columbus led to the arrest of a local man. Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that at about 9:50 p.m. on Friday, Deputy Adam Warner found the vehicle at 11th Street and Lafayette Avenue doing a burnout when taking off from the stop signs at the intersection of Lafayette Avenue and Franklin Street.

When Deputy Warner activated his emergency lights, the vehicle allegedly ran the traffic light at 11th and Washington Streets and drove northbound on Washington Street at a high rate of speed before stopping near the intersection of 14th and Washington Streets.

The deputy reports that the driver, 37-year-old Jorge Huberto Chavez of Pearl Street, appeared to be intoxicated. He also allegedly found alcohol bottles inside of Chavez’s vehicle.

Chavez, who was wanted on a felony warrant out of Jennings County, is facing preliminary charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated and Operating Without Ever Receiving a License. In addition, Jackson says that Chavez was also issued three traffic tickets for infractions observed during the incident.

Chavez is being held without bond.

A Sunday night traffic stop led to the arrest of two Columbus residents on drug charges. Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that Deputy Leah Burton was patrolling southbound on US 31 in the area of County Road 650 North shortly before midnight when she noticed a vehicle in front of her with an expired license tag. She also noted that the vehicle was swerving in the lane.

Jackson says that Deputy Burton conducted a traffic stop near County Road 400 North. The driver, 31-year-old Chawn Timothy Coomer of McCullough Lane, allegedly told the deputy that heroin was in the vehicle. A search reportedly resulted in the discovery of a gray powdery substance, several syringes and a small amount of marijuana.

Coomer, whom authorities say was wanted on four warrants, was arrested on preliminary charges of:

False Informing;
Possession of Heroin;
Possession of Legend Drug Injection Devices;
Possession of Paraphernalia

Coomer remains behind bars in lieu of $122,500 bond.

Coomer’s passenger, 39-year-old Mara Ann Gastineau of Northeastern Blvd, was also arrested. She is facing preliminary charges of:

Possession of Heroin,
Legend Drug Deception;
Possession of Marijuana

Gastineau remains jailed without bond.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that a project to install new traffic signals at seven intersections in Greensburg will slow traffic in the coming days. Officials say that contracted crews will pull cables across State Road 46 and State Road 3, adding that police will be onsite to direct traffic during the work.

INDOT says that Midwestern Electric plans to set its cables between strain poles along State Road 46 through downtown on Monday. Traffic is expected top be affected at the following intersections: Broadway, Montfort and Franklin Streets, and at both west and east junctions of U.S. Highway 421.

On Wednesday, signal installers are scheduled to pull cable across the State Road 3 intersection at Broadway Street.

On Friday, May 19, the schedule calls for work at the intersection of State Road 3 and Freeland Road.

INDOT says that drivers should anticipate delays at these sites. Officials add that the work is dependent on the weather and could be rescheduled.

Delayed several weeks by utility relocations and heavy rains, the Indiana Department of Transportation plans to close State Road 135 near Freetown for culvert removal and replacement on Tuesday. INDOT officials anticipate this closure at a branch of Salt Creek’s south fork about 5.2 miles north of U.S. Highway 50, will remain in place for approximately three weeks.

Once in place, crews move north on State Road 135 to a branch of Hamilton Creek, located 7.6 miles north of State Road 58 in Brown County, just east of Christianburg Road. A 142-inch arch culvert will be constructed there requiring a 30-day closure of the north-south highway.

INDOT officials add that work continues at the double-arch bridge on State Road 135 at Little Bean Blossom Creek, about 1.7 miles north of State Road 45 in Brown County. They say the arch ring has been removed and is being replaced. A 75-day closure is in effect.

A Batesville man was arrested Thursday on child pornography charges. Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, says that the ISP Internet Crimes Against Children Unit began an investigation last year when detectives received an anonymous tip that an IP Address in the 200 block of Country Club Road was used to view and share images of child pornography. That investigation ultimately led to detectives receiving a search warrant for the home. Wheeles says that the warrant, which was served at approximately 10:30 a.m., led to detectives discovering images of child pornography on devices and private accounts belonging to a resident.

ISP arrested 24-year-old David W. Smith on charges of Possession of Child Pornography and Child Exploitation.
The Indiana State Police are using this incident to encourage anyone with information related to internet crimes against children to submit a cyber-tip on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website at missingkids.com.

Columbus Firefighters extinguished a vehicle fire near the intersection of 10th Street and Cottage Avenue Friday afternoon. Capt. Mike Wilson, CFD spokesman, says that firefighters were called to the area shortly before 2 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find an unoccupied four-door passenger car with smoke coming from the engine compartment. Wilson says the driver was nowhere to be seen.

Once at the scene, Wilson says that firefighters quickly extinguished the fire. Officers with the Columbus Police Department discovered what is believed to be engine components as they traveled south on Central Avenue, towards the scene. Those suspected engine components were collected by police officers and brought to the scene of the vehicle fire. Columbus Police Department is investigating the identity of the driver.

No injuries were reported. Wilson says that the car sustained significant damage in the engine compartment. The cause of the accidental fire is believed to be mechanical in nature.

Larry Perkinson, the student services director for Bartholomew Consolidated Schools was honored at Thursday night’s Columbus Human Rights Commission’s annual dinner with the William R. Laws Human Rights Award. Mayor Jim Lienhoop, a childhood friend of Perkinson, says that his friend has accomplished much in his decades of service with BCSC.

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The Mayor says that his friend has done much to help the youths of the community.

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Lienhoop added that Perkinson’s commitment to the community extended beyond the school district.

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An emotional Perkinson credited his mother and wife for showing him what compassion for others is. He talked about how his mother’s home was always a welcoming place for kids in need…

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Members of the Human Rights Commission they selected Perkinson for “his commitment to the community and his advocacy of all students.” This marks another recent accolade for Perkinson, who was inducted into the BCSC Education Hall of Fame last year.