COLUMBUS — A 77-year-old Edinburgh man has died from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle collision involving an off-road utility task vehicle (UTV) and a pickup truck on 25th Street in Columbus. While authorities have confirmed the victim was a resident of Edinburgh, Indiana, his name has not yet been publicly released by law enforcement or the county coroner’s office pending full family notification.
The crash occurred at approximately 12:10 p.m. on Monday, July 27, at the intersection of 25th Street and Home Avenue.
According to the Columbus Police Department (CPD) and the department’s Accident Reconstruction Team, a blue Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by a 16-year-old male was traveling westbound on 25th Street as it approached Home Avenue.
At the same time, the 77-year-old victim was operating a southbound Polaris UTV on Home Avenue. Eyewitness testimony and traffic camera footage collected at the scene indicated that the UTV was initially stopped at a red light. When the light turned green for southbound traffic on Home Avenue, the UTV proceeded into the intersection. The pickup truck continued through the light and struck the driver’s side of the off-road vehicle.
First responders arriving on scene found the UTV driver suffering from severe head trauma and multiple other injuries. He was transported by emergency ambulance to Columbus Regional Health before being airlifted by medical helicopter to a hospital in Indianapolis, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators noted that the driver of the UTV was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the impact. Passengers traveling in both vehicles—a male passenger in the UTV and a male passenger in the pickup truck—along with the 16-year-old pickup driver, escaped without injury.
Safety Context and City Ordinance
The collision comes shortly after city officials in Columbus approved a municipal ordinance authorizing the limited operation of golf carts and off-road UTVs on select public city streets. Local safety officials emphasize that while certain low-speed and off-road vehicles are legally permitted on local roads, drivers must exercise extreme caution, adhere strictly to seatbelt laws where equipped, and remain vigilant at busy intersections.
The intersection of 25th Street and Home Avenue remained closed for several hours Monday afternoon while crash scene technicians collected physical evidence and cleared debris.
The fatal crash remains under active investigation by the Columbus Police Department. Authorities ask anyone who witnessed the collision or who has additional video footage or information to contact CPD at 812-376-2600.
