A two vehicle crash Wednesday morning on US231 near Boggs Lake claimed the lives of two local men.

At 8:20 A.M. this morning, 60-year-old Kevin Sears of Odon was northbound on US231, when for an unknown reason, his 2002 Honda Civic veered into the southbound lane near County Road 700 North. 

The Honda pulled directly into the path of a 2008 Dodge Avenger, driven by 29-year-old Zachary Greene of Loogootee.  Sears’s Honda struck Greene’s Stratus, coming to a stop almost immediately.

Sears was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Martin County Coroner. 

Greene and his front seat passenger were both transported to Memorial Hospital in Jasper. 

The passenger was transferred to St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. 

Notification of his passing to family is still pending.  Greene was being treated for injuries to his legs and ankle.

All three vehicle occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by ISP crash reconstructionists. 

The State Police was assisted by the Martin County Sheriff’s Department, Loogootee Fire Department, and Southwest Medical (Martin County EMS).

By State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem) 

Saturday, Nov. 18, marks the beginning of deer-hunting season for licensed firearms hunters in Indiana. 

Many hunters are aware of some confusion regarding what equipment is available for deer hunting this year, and may be unsure of what is legal to use. Last session House Enrolled Act 1415 was passed with the goal of expanding the allowable rifles on private property.

A drafting error in this legislation inadvertently resulted in a ban on all rifles for hunting on public land, regardless of caliber. This was not the intent of the General Assembly, and would have had enormous consequences for law abiding hunters across our state. 

When this error came to light, I immediately sent a letter to Gov. Holcomb requesting that he take action to correct this provision before the start of hunting season. 

In response to my letter, the Department of Natural Resources issued an emergency rule earlier this month, along with a press release stating, in part, “Rifle cartridges that were allowed in previous years on public land for deer hunting are allowed on public land again this year during the deer firearms season,” “ the rifle cartridge must fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger, have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches, and have a maximum case length of 1.8 inches if used on public land. Full metal jacketed bullets are illegal.”

I am proud to support hunters in the Hoosier state, and will work with my colleagues on finding a long-term solution to HEA 1415 in the coming legislative session.

Deer firearms hunting season closes on Dec. 3. For more information about the emergency rule, general safety guidelines and regulations, please visit http://www.eregulations.com/indiana/hunting/.

If you have any thoughts or questions on these or other issues, please contact me by email at Senator.Houchin@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.

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This morning at approximately 5:50 am, troopers from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg were called to State Road #111 about a half mile North of the Horseshoe Casino for a vehicle crash involving two vehicles.

A 2009 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Dennis R. Masticola, 46, from Louisville, KY, was travelling North on State Road #111 when for an unknown reason he crossed the center line crashing into a 2000 GMC Sierra Pickup truck driven by Eric W. Herthel, 46, from Elizabeth, IN.

The 2000 GMC pickup truck tried to avoid the oncoming 2009 Ford F-150 but was unable to do so resulting in the two vehicles crashing head on.

Both drivers were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, KY with serious injuries. Herthel was transported by ground ambulance and Masticola by air ambulance.

Both individuals had to be extricated from their vehicles by emergency personnel. Both subjects were wearing seat belts.

The roadway in that area was closed for over three hours while emergency crews cleaned up the scene and Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionist completed their investigation of the crash scene.

This investigation is continuing.

Assisting agencies at the scene were the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department and the New Chapel Fire and E.M.S.