Head-On Crash North of Ferdinand Claims One Life

A near head-on crash this afternoon north of Ferdinand claimed the life of a Cannelton, IN woman.

At approximately 3:02 this afternoon, Brandon W. Chamberlain, 23, Huntingburg, was traveling northbound on State Road 162 in a white 2012 Ford F-350 SuperCrew pick-up truck.

For an unknown reason, Chamberlain traveled left of center, striking a southbound tan 2001 Buick Century, driven by Donna Marie Evans, 60, Cannelton. The impact pushed Evans’s vehicle backwards and off of the east side of the roadway.

As Chamberlain’s Ford continued north, Chamberlain could not maintain control of the vehicle. Due to the violent dynamics of the crash, an ATV in the bed of Chamberlain’s truck became airborne and bounced through the windshield and roofline of a red 2013 Mazda CX-5 SUV, driven by Donna R. Trafton, 58, Ferdinand. Impact by the ATV shattered the windshield and peeled the roof back off of the vehicle before coming dislodged and landing in a driveway on the west side of the roadway. Trafton’s SUV came to rest on a hillside, also on the west side of the roadway.

After losing the ATV and sideswiping Trafton’s vehicle, Chamberlain’s Ford rolled onto the driver’s side and slid northbound in the northbound lane. The vehicle came to rest without rolling over any additional times. Chamberlain was extricated from the vehicle by first responders and was flown to St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville for treatment of a broken tibia.

Evans was transported to Memorial Hospital in Jasper, where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead by the Dubois County Coroner. Trafton was also taken to Memorial Hospital and is in stable condition after suffering two fractured vertebrae.

State Road 162 was closed for nearly three and a half hours while investigators processed the scene.

This crash remains under investigation.

Investigating Officer was Sergeant Philip Hensley. He was assisted by Dubois County Sheriff’s and Ferdinand Police Departments, Ferdinand and St. Anthony Fire Departments, Memorial Hospital EMS, Dubois County Coroner’s Office