MIAMI CO. – Wednesday at approximately 8:08 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Miami County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motorcycle crash on northbound U.S. 31 near Miami County Road 900 South, in which a Russiaville man had to be revived.
When Trooper Andrew Baldwin and Indiana State Police Sergeant Andrew Smith arrived at the crash scene, they found 48-year-old William Lidy, Russiaville, in the east ditch next to a motorcycle. A good Samaritan was performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Lidy.
The troopers observed that Lidy’s face was purple, he was not breathing, and he had no pulse. The officers took over the CPR from the good Samaritan. Miami County Sheriff’s Deputy James Bean arrived on the scene and assisted Smith and Baldwin with CPR.
Before medical personnel arrived, Lidy started to breathe and had a pulse. Baldwin and Smith also applied an automated external defibrillator (AED) to Lidy. It advised no shock was needed. Lidy was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. He was then flown, via medical helicopter, to an Ft Wayne hospital. At last check, he was in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.
The preliminary crash investigation by Baldwin revealed that Lidy was driving a 2006 Honda CBR motorcycle northbound on U.S 31 near Miami County Road 900 South. For an undetermined reason, the motorcycle traveled off the east side of U.S 31, ejecting Lidy.
The investigation is ongoing. The use of intoxicants is suspected of having contributed to the crash.
Lidy was wearing a helmet which Baldwin believes helped reduce the severity of his injuries.
Troopers are trained annually in CPR.
