SPRINGVILLE – A fatal two-vehicle collision at the intersection of State Road 54 and Old Farm Road in Springville claimed the life of a 94-year-old Bedford woman on Saturday afternoon.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident occurred at approximately 1:11 PM on April 20th. Emergency responders, including police officers, fire personnel, and EMS, were dispatched to the scene after a 911 call reported a serious crash.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Doris Conner, 94, of Bedford, was driving a 1993 Buick LeSabre northbound on Old Farm Road. She was the sole occupant of the vehicle. At the same time, an 18-year-old Madison resident, Hunter Stidham, was operating a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee westbound on State Road 54, with two passengers in the vehicle.
According to the investigation, Ms. Conner attempted to cross State Road 54 onto Brick Street from Old Farm Road and drove directly into the path of the Jeep. This resulted in a t-bone style collision, with the Jeep striking the passenger side of the Buick.
The force of the impact caused the Buick to travel northwest and come to rest partially off the roadway, northwest of the intersection, facing east. The Jeep came to a stop in the westbound lane of State Road 54, just west of the intersection, facing north.
Tragically, Ms. Conner sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Mr. Stidham and his passengers were reported to be uninjured.
Evidence gathered at the scene, including roadway markings, vehicle damage, and statements from witnesses, including an uninvolved individual traveling eastbound on State Road 54, corroborated the sequence of events. The primary cause of the crash has been identified as Ms. Conner’s failure to yield the right of way.
Under state statute, a blood draw was conducted on Mr. Stidham, and toxicology results are currently pending.
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Atchison served as the lead investigating officer, with assistance from Deputy Thomas Porter, Sergeant Robin Compton Jr., and Sergeant. Anthony Pope. The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office received support from the Perry Township Fire Department, the Marshall Township Fire Department, the Bedford Fire Department Rescue, IU Health EMS, and Tow Time Wrecker Service at the scene.
