HATFIELD — A motorist was flown to a trauma center following a harrowing single-vehicle accident Friday evening in Spencer County.
First responders were dispatched to Indiana 66 near the town of Hatfield at approximately 5:15 p.m. on February 13, 2026. Upon arrival, crews from the Luce Fire Territory discovered a vehicle that had left the roadway and come to a rest in a vertical position against a stand of trees.
The precarious position of the vehicle required specialized stabilization by firefighters before they could begin the difficult process of extricating the trapped driver.
Assisting at the scene were the Luce Fire Territory, Spencer County EMS, and Spencer County Sheriff’s Office
Once freed from the wreckage, the driver was stabilized by paramedics and transported to a nearby landing zone. A StatFlight helicopter was waiting to airlift the patient to a regional trauma center for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
The crash caused significant delays for Friday evening commuters. Authorities shut down the eastbound lanes of Indiana 66 for several hours to facilitate the rescue operation and allow investigators to clear the debris. The roadway was reopened later that night.
While the identity of the driver has not yet been released, the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports do not indicate if weather or speed played a factor in the vehicle leaving the road.
“Our crews worked diligently to stabilize a very unstable scene to ensure the safety of both the patient and our emergency personnel,” said Luce Fire Territory in a statement.
