Published: October 30, 2009 10:34 am      

NEW: Three-car crash on Ind. 22

Witness says car crossed center line

Three area motorists appeared to have narrowly escaped serious injuries Friday morning after a three-car crash in western Howard County.

Ind. 22 was shut down between 750 West and 900 West for about an hour after the crash, which totaled all three vehicles.

County resident Leslie Routt said she was headed westbound on Ind. 22, just after 8:30 a.m., approaching 880 West, when she saw the accident in her rearview mirror.

The driver of an older white Pontiac STE, also headed just behind Routt’s truck, crossed the center line and hit two eastbound vehicles.

The impact knocked both eastbound vehicles into the ditch along the south side of the road. Airbags on both cars deployed. The female driver of the first car hit was bleeding from the scalp, but was conscious and in seemingly good condition as Burlington volunteer firefighters cut the mangled drivers side door off her Pontiac Grand Prix.

She was taken to St. Joseph Hospital, as was the driver of the white Pontiac. Routt said he managed to get out of his car on his own, but was bleeding heavily from the head. The older Pontiac didn’t appear to have airbags.

The impact destroyed the left-front quarter panels of all three cars involved. Routt said it appeared as if the white Pontiac was about to turn left in front of oncoming traffic, causing the accident.

The Howard County Sheriff Department is investigating the accident.

• Scott Smith is a Kokomo Tribune staff writer. He may be reached at (765) 454-8569 or via e-mail at scott.smith@kokomotribune.com