Dozens of students suffered bumps and bruises in Wednesday's crash near North Webster, while one student had a broken hand and another broke a collarbone.A Bluffton resident was one of two men who died Friday in a southern Indiana crash, according to Bartholomew County sheriff’s deputies.
The two-vehicle crash was reported just before 3 p.m. Friday on Indiana 46 west of Columbus. Deputies said Michael Brickley, 57, of Bluffton was driving a GMC pickup truck west when it collided with an eastbound Honda.
Brickley died at the scene. The driver of the Honda, Katlin Piper, 19, of Columbus was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital, where he died.
Both drivers died of blunt-force trauma, according to the Bartholomew County coroner.
Two passengers in Brickley’s truck were also injured. Rochelle Saine, 46, of Bluffton suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital.
Aeryk Nicholson, 5, was taken by medical helicopter to a local hospital. No information on the child’s condition was available.
Deputies believe Piper’s car veered into the westbound lane, but they’re unsure why. Toxicology tests on both drivers are pending.
Witnesses told deputies low-flying aircraft were in the area at the time of the wreck, but deputies determined that was not a contributing factor.
The crash remains under investigation.
