This morning at approximately 3:55 am, on Interstate #65 near the 11.9 Mile Marker, a 2011 Toyota Sienna, (minivan), was travelling northbound in the center lane when the driver had to slow down for a fallen tree that was across all three lanes of travel.

A 2015 Mack U.P.S. semi-tractor with duel trailers was travelling behind the van. The semi-tractor and dual trailers was unable to slow down and rear ended the van pushing it into the median guard rail.

The Sienna mini-van was occupied by four people.

The driver, Norma P. Zepeda-Escobar, 28, from Lilburn, Georgia along with passengers, Julio C. Escobar, 32, from Hyattsville, Maryland and Abisai D. Garcia, 30, from Lilburn, Georgia were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, KY with unknown injuries.

Another passenger, Isidra Cornejo Pineda, 33, from Lilthonia, Georgia was declared deceased at the scene.

The semi-tractor and dual trailers was driven by Dennis D. Summers, from Franklin, Indiana. He was not injured.

Interstate #65 northbound was closed at the Nine Mile Marker, (Sellersburg), routing traffic to U.S. #31 for approximately 2.5 hours.

Seatbelt use is unknown at this time. No photos are available.

Due to the heavy amount of ice Southern Indiana received overnight over 40,000 are without power for Duke and Jackson County REMC  customers.

Duke Energy has 2,819 customers without power in Washington County.

Other Duke outages include:

• Orange County – 391
• Lawrence County – 1,718
• Crawford County – 3,650
• Harrison County – 341
• Floyd County – 4,902
• Clark County – 5,553
• Jefferson County – 7,448
• Scott County – 956
• Jackson County – 1,006
• Jennings County – 3,027
• Ripley – 1,146
• Dearborn County – 2,631

Jackson County REMC reports over 3,000 power outages in Jennings, Jackson, Scott, and Washington.

REMC has all available crews and contracted crews out working to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.

“Please visit our website www.jacksonremc.com, and our Facebook page Jackson County REMC for more information,” said Nicole Ault, Communications Specialist for Jackson County REMC.

“We will continue to update our Facebook page with the most recent information,” Ault said. 

Remember to stay away and NEVER touch a downed powerline.

Also, tree limbs are still breaking and will continue to do
so until the ice melts. Please stay safe and stay out from under any large trees or limbs. 

Any Jackson County REMC customer who is out of service and has not reported their outage is encouraged to report
their outage either on our SmartHub app, or by calling the office at 812-358-4458.

Here are precinct by precinct reports and a cumulative report from the Washington County election on Nov. 6. 

“We do apologize for just now having the complete election returns from Washington County,” said WSLM Owner and General Manager Rebecca White. “We just received them this morning. These results were denied to WSLM on Tuesday, Nov. 6 by the Washington County Election Board.”

Salem Media made a request shortly after 6a on Wednesday to the Washington County Clerk’s office for any and all election results. 

The results were emailed to WSLM this morning at 9:54a by the clerk’s office. 

The results are unofficial until being certified. 

2018 General Unofficial Precinct Report

2018 General Election-UNOFFICIAL Washington County, Indiana

A stolen vehicle hit an Indiana State Police car on Tuesday evening.

As a result, three were arrested and one person was cited. 

Nov. 6 at 4:39, Indiana State Police Trooper Courtland Woodruff was on duty on Wabash Avenue when he observed a red 2005 Chrysler Sebring with an expired license plate.

A database search indicated the vehicle was stolen. The vehicle then turned onto Van Buren Blvd heading south. Trooper Woodruff activated his emergency lights while behind the vehicle near Riley Avenue.

The vehicle initially came to a stop, however as Trooper Woodruff stepped out of his patrol vehicle, the vehicle took off. Trooper Woodruff requested assistance and pursued the vehicle with all emergency lights and siren activated.

The pursuit started on Riley Avenue heading west towards Brown Avenue. At this time, Trooper Woodruff noticed items being thrown from the vehicle. Also during the pursuit, the vehicle hit Trooper Woodruff’s patrol car. The pursuit eventually ended after the vehicle lost control and hit a stop sign at the corner of Hulman Street and Brown Avenue.

Indiana State Police Troopers along with the Terre Haute Police Department quickly detained five suspects from the vehicle. The vehicle was confirmed stolen out of Terre Haute. During the inventory of the stolen vehicle, a small baggie was located in the back seat containing suspected methamphetamine.

Three suspects were transported to the Vigo County Jail with one being cited and released. The fifth suspect was a 16-year-old juvenile and transported to the Vigo County Juvenile Center. There were no injuries reported.

Arrested:    Megan Coleman age 19, of Terre Haute (driver).

                   Incarcerated in Vigo County Jail.

Charges:    Auto Theft, Child Endangerment, Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of    Methamphetamine, Possession of a Syringe, Possession of Paraphernalia, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Driving While Suspended (Prior), Reckless Driving and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated

Arrested:    Katie Cheesman age 25, of Terre Haute

                   Incarcerated in Vigo County Jail

Charges:    Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Syringe, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Possession of Paraphernalia

Arrested:    Jonathon Hemmons age 21, of Terre Haute

                   Incarcerated in Vigo County Jail

Charges:    Wanted on Warrant out of Vigo County for Auto Theft

Cited:         Harleigh Nicholson age 18, of Brazil

Charges:    Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia

Assisting were ISP Senior Trooper David Petrowski, Trooper Rondell Shelton and Trooper Brad Fyfe. Also assisting were officers from the Terre Haute City Police Department.

Yesterday, at approximately 2:00 pm, the Indiana State Police arrested a Seymour man and cited a Seymour woman for drug charges following a traffic stop on I-65 in Jackson County.

The investigation began when Sgt. Stephen Wheeles conducted a traffic stop on a 2017 Hyundai SUV on I-65 Southbound near the 51 mile marker for a traffic offense. Upon speaking to the driver, identified as Timothy W. Shell, age 39, Seymour, Indiana, Sgt. Wheeles detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Sgt. Wheeles conducted a search of the vehicle and located approximately 8.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Shell was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine (over 5 grams), possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia. He was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he was incarcerated pending his initial appearance in the Jackson County Circuit Court.

A passenger in Shell’s vehicle, Kristen N. Brackemyre, age 37, Seymour, Indiana, was cited into court on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

Sgt. Wheeles was assisted at the scene by Trp. Seth Davidson.

Over 40 Salem High School Choir students are busy preparing for the annual “Bohemian Supper Club” to be presented Nov 8-11 at the school’s Presentation Room.

Shows are at 7:15 pm, Thursday-Saturday, November 8-10, followed by a special Sunday matinee performance at 2:00 pm on November 11.

The thirteenth in a series of original musical revues, this year’s theme is “Under
Cover”, and features performances of memorable “cover” songs by SHS vocalists and
instrumentalists.

All seats are $8, and tickets can be purchased from the Salem High School Bookstore
during school hours only (no telephone sales). Tickets can also be purchased online
at SalemChoirs.org.

Drinks and desserts are available for purchase during the events. All proceeds
benefit the Salem Choir program.

A two car crash on US 35, (the Muncie Bypass,) and E. McGalliard Rd. shortly before 5 p.m. this evening claimed the life of a Selma woman.  Troopers arrived to find a blue Ford station wagon in the north bound lanes of the bypass, and a red Toyota car in the west bound lane of McGalliard Rd. on the northeast corner of the intersection.

The preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Coley McCutcheon revealed that the blue station wagon, driven by Janet Bonham, age 65 of Selma, was turning east onto McGalliard from the south bound lanes of the Muncie Bypass, when it turned into the path of a north bound Toyota, driven by Curtis Bow Jr., age 47 of Muncie.

Bonham was transported from the crash scene by Delaware County EMS, but later succumbed to her injuries at IU Health’s Ball Memorial Hospital. Bow was not injured in the crash. The crash had the north bound lanes of the Muncie Bypass closed for over 2 hours.

Trooper McCutcheon was assisted at the scene by Sergeant Jeff Zeiger, Troopers Tom Harbison, Scott Beamon and Mark Hanna, as well as Muncie City Police, Delaware County Sheriff’s Department, Delaware County EMA and EMS and Northwest Towing.

Tuesday morning at 10:00, Indiana State Police Detectives from the Putnamville Post were contacted by the Parke County Sheriff’s Office regarding information of the stolen handgun from an Indiana State Police commission.

Arrested was Logan J. Blubaugh, age 19, of Rosedale. He was incarcerated in the Vigo County Jail

Blubaugh was charged with unlawful Entry of a motor Vehicle, Obstruction of Justice, and Theft.

The Parke County Sheriff’s Office received a tip earlier this morning regarding a stolen Indiana State Police firearm.

The Sheriff’s Office contacted the State Police Putnamville Post and advised them of information received. Deputies also advised the original tip was of a stolen vehicle.

Detectives from the State Police Putnamville Post responded to the address provided by the Sheriff’s Office. During the investigation, information was received and led to a suspect matching the description of the individual found on surveillance video.

Detectives along with deputies were provided with information of the suspect’s whereabouts. Once the suspect was located, information was received of the possible location of the handgun. The Indiana State Police Scuba Team was then contacted for assistance. The suspect was arrested and incarcerated in the Vigo County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation.

The case was investigated by Indiana State Police Sergeant Detective Sam Stearley, and Detective Don Curtis. Assisting were Parke County Deputies, Sergeant Brad McNeil, Deputy Kyle Stonebraker, and Detective Mike Pivowar. Also assisting was Indiana State Police Scuba Team members Sergeant Chris Lambert, Sergeant Kris Fitzgerald and Detective Mike Taylor.

A 34-year-old French Lick man apparently shot himself after a standoff with police at a home in West Baden Springs. 

Dead is Angel L. Pagan, 34, French Lick. 

Monday evening at approximately 6:00 P.M., the Orange County Sheriff’s Department was called by Destiny Mitchell the homeowner of 10090 West County Road 160 North, West Baden Springs, to report that she believed Pagan. 

She had earlier reported that Pagan had threatened to kill her as the result of a domestic dispute and was afraid to return home by herself with her two-year-old child.

As a result of the homeowner’s concern members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and West Baden Springs Police Department responded to the residence and entered the home with a key provided by the homeowner.

The responding officers were also aware of an unrelated misdemeanor warrant for Resisting Law Enforcement that had been issued for Pagan’s arrest.

When they entered the home the officers discovered Pagan was, in fact, in the home.

The officers asked Pagan to surrender himself and he immediately displayed a handgun and retreated into a bedroom and locked the door.

The officers did not immediately confront Pagan, opting to leave the home and establish a perimeter and summon additional assistance.

Within the following hour additional members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and members of the Indiana State Police, inclusive of SWAT team members and state police Hostage Crisis Negotiators arrived at the scene and spoke with Pagan through the evening and early morning hours trying to encourage Pagan to peacefully surrender.

As the morning of Nov. 6th drew near, Springs Valley School officials were notified to arrange for an alternate school bus route to assure safe transportation of school age children that lived within the area.

Negotiations continued through the day and into the afternoon, even as Pagan made efforts to obstruct the view into the home by placing a mattress in front of a window.

Despite this, the Orange County Sheriff, Josh Babcock, offered to move to a place of personal jeopardy to speak with Pagan and implore him to surrender.

When it became apparent Sheriff Babcock was not going to be successful in convincing Pagan to surrender, members of the state police SWAT team removed the door from the opposite side of the home. This action was taken since it was known Pagan was on the other side of the house, and if necessary to enter the home it would make entry tactically safer for law enforcement.

It is believed when Pagan heard the door being removed he retreated back into the house and one gunshot was heard from within the home.

Troopers then quickly entered the home where Pagan was discovered incapacitated with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.

Officers at the scene began rendering first-aid to Pagan as an ambulance that was already near the scene as a safety precaution responded as well.

Paramedics from the ambulance, along with a state police officer, and medical personnel from an Air Evacuation helicopter that had been summoned to the scene worked for more than 30 minutes to try and stabilize Pagan while he was in the ambulance. Despite everyone’s efforts Pagan was pronounced deceased in the ambulance.

Orange County Coroner Aaron Kempe arrived at the scene and preliminarily ruled Pagan’s death as a self-inflicted single gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy for Pagan has been scheduled for Nov. 7th.

Further comments about the official cause of death will be made by the Coroner at a future date once the results of the autopsy have been finalized.