JENNINGS COUNTY – Shortly after 8:00 a.m. Friday, Troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post responded to a three-vehicle head-on crash on US 50 in western Jennings County that claimed the life of two people.
The initial investigation by troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team indicated that a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, being driven by 19-year-old Halle S. Elliott of Louisville, Kentucky was traveling eastbound on US 50 near County Road 575 West between Seymour and North Vernon, when for an unknown reason, Elliott’s vehicle crossed the center line into the path of a westbound 2014 Freightliner semi pulling a trailer, being driven by 28-year-old Jacob E. Hyman of North Vernon.
Elliott’s vehicle struck the rear of Hyman’s trailer which caused her vehicle to turn sideways into the path of a westbound 2019 Ford Edge being driven by 54-year-old Robert A. Keener of North Vernon.
The front of Keener’s vehicle struck the passenger side of Elliott’s vehicle and came to stop in the westbound lanes of US 50. Elliott’s vehicle was overturned and came to rest off the north side of the road.
Elliott and her front-seat passenger, 20-year-old Skyler S. Short of Hanover sustained fatal injuries in the collision and were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office. Hyman and Keener were not injured in the crash.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing by the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post Crash Reconstruction Team. Toxicology results are pending. The families of Elliott and Short have been notified.
US 50 remained closed for approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, Jennings County EMS, Spencer Township Fire Department, Jennings County Coroner’s Office, and 31 Wrecker Service.
