(FRENCH LICK) – An off-road vehicle accident Saturday night claimed the life of a French Lick man and landed the the victim’s father-in-law behind bars.
Officers from French Lick and West Baden Springs responded to a 911 call at 11:15 p.m. Saturday, south of State Road 56, near County Road 1050 West and County Road 300 South, northwest of French Lick Municipal Airport.
Investigators say 32-year-old Zachary Flick had gotten off a side-by-side UTV to retrieve a hat when he was struck by the vehicle as it was returning to pick him up. Flick fell after being struck by the vehicle and hit his head on a rock.
Police say Flick suffered a severe head wound and never regained consciousness. He was rushed by a Dubois County Emergency Services ambulance to Memorial Hospital in Jasper and then transferred to Deaconness Midtown Hospital in Evansville where he died from his injuries.
Police say the weather was bad and a helicopter could not fly to the scene.
The driver of the vehicle, 46-year-old Jeremy Parks, of French Lick, told police the vehicle slid on the wet grass when he was returning to pick up Flick and he was unable to stop before striking the Flick.
Witnesses at the scene say the vehicle was traveling around 20 to 25 miles per hour at the time of the accident.
Parks was arrested on felony charges of reckless homicide and operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
