Full Notification

*** Update information regarding accidents on US 41 in Fort Branch on July 3, 2014.***

On Thursday July 3, 2014 at 1:11 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 call reporting an accident with injuries on US 41 at the State Road 168 intersection. Gibson County Law Enforcement, The Fort Branch Fire Department, and Gibson County Ambulances were dispatched to the scene. Sgt. Bruce Vanoven investigated the scene and it was determined that White 2005 GMC pickup driven by Jon Hidbrader, 26 of Evansville proceeded westbound through a red light. Once the GMC pickup entered the intersection it struck a Blue 2012 Ford Escape that was driven by a juvenile from West Salem, Illinois and was headed Northbound. Two passengers in the Ford Escape were transported to the Gibson General Emergency Room for treatment of minor injuries. During the investigation and clean up of the scene US 41 was completely blocked for a short period of time.

At 1:58 p.m, while officers were finishing up the accident at US 41 and SR 168 Gibson County Central Dispatch received another 911 accident reporting a second accident on US 41 south of the first accident. Gibson County law enforcement, Fort Branch Fire, and Gibson County Ambulances located the accident in the Northbound lane of US 41 near County Road 750 South. Deputy Roger Ballard investigated the accident and it was determined that White 2012 Freightliner driven by 71 year old Philip Roberts of Wapakoneta, Ohio was stopped in the backed up traffic from the previous accident. While Mr. Roberts was stopped in the roadway a White 2012 Chrysler minivan driven by 87 year old Leonard Knowles of Mount Carmel rear ended the semi driven by Mr. Roberts.

Mr. Knowles and his wife 87 year old Doris Knowles were entrapped in the vehicle, and Fort Branch Fire Department asked for assistance from the Haubstadt Fire Department and an extrication team from the McCutchanville Fire Department. Due to the severity of the entrapment and possibility of severe trauma two air ambulance helicopters were also sent to the scene. Mr. and Mrs. Knowles were extricated from the vehicle and flown to Deaconess Hospital. Mr. Roberts the driver of the semi was taken to the Gibson General Hospital for a Blood Draw and Urinalysis test per the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office’s Standard Operating Procedures.
No citations were issued in either accident.