Full Notification

Indiana State Police Versailles advises you to AVOID SR 7 in Elizabethtown due to a current traffic crash fatality investigation.

A vehicle crash involving a semi-tractor trailer and a passenger car near SR 7 and CR 950 N has closed SR 7 at Legal Tender Road (west of crash scene) in Bartholomew County and at SR 7 at CR 900 N (east of crash scene) in Jennings County and will require a detour of traffic for the next several hours.

Suggested alternate routes-For motorists wanting to go eastbound (south) on SR 7, use US 31 south in Columbus to Seymour and take US 50 east to North Vernon. For motorists wanting to go westbound (north) on SR 7 use US 50 west in North Vernon to Seymour and take US 31 north to SR 7 in Columbus.

PLEASE AVOID USING SR 7 IN ELIZABETHTOWN AREA OF JENNINGS AND BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY AT THIS TIME!

JENNINGS COUNTY-UPDATE: SR 7 in Elizabethtown reopened around 11:30 AM this morning after a crash fatality investigation was completed at SR 7 and CR 950 N in Jennings County.

According to Indiana State Police Trooper Matt Holley, a cream-colored 1987 Buick passenger car driven by LESLIE ANNA GENTRY 34, of Columbus was traveling southbound on SR 7 crossed the centerline of the road into the north lane of travel and struck a white 1972 Chevrolet flat-bed truck being operated by LEONARD R. MEEK 77, of North Vernon. MEEK attempted to turn to the right away from GENTRY'S approaching vehicle. The Buick struck the front driver's side of the Chevrolet truck. The Buick spun around came to rest in the north lane of SR 7.
Crash impact caused the Chevrolet truck to lose grain all over the roadway as it continued north on SR 7 and coming to a rest further down the road from the Buick. The Chevrolet truck was full with grain. GENTRY was pronounced dead on the scene. MEEK was treated for bruising on the scene. It is not known why GENTRY'S Buick traveled into the northbound lane.

Assisting Indiana State Police Trooper Matt Holley during this crash investigation are Bartholomew County Sheriff Department, Jennings County Sheriff Department, Indiana Department of Transportation-Columbus, Scipio/Geneva Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Jennings County Coroner's Office.

SR 7 HAS REOPENED IN THE ELIZABETHTOWN AREA!!!