Accident on 41 leaves one dead

VIGO COUNTY, Ind, (WTHI) - Thursday evening at just after 5:00, Indiana State Police and Sullivan County emergency agencies responded to a two-vehicle crash on US 41 at County Road 950 North which resulted in the death of one driver.

Preliminary investigation revealed a tan 1998 Ford Taurus four door was westbound on CR 950 N and drove into the path of a northbound white 2005 Ford F350 pickup pulling a box trailer. The Ford truck veered to the left attempting to avoid the collision, but could not and struck the Taurus in the driver’s side.

The Taurus driver was pronounced deceased at the scene by Sullivan County Deputy Coroner Dave Rollison. The deceased was extricated from the vehicle by members of the Thunderbird Fire/Rescue and Shelburn Fire Departments.

The pickup was driven by Shawn R. Hadley, age 35, of Terre Haute, IN. 

The deceased driver was identified as Gene Scott Horsley Jr. age 57, of Terre Haute, IN. 

Hadley and two passengers were restrained and not injured.

At approximately 4:30 this evening, Vigo and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Offices had dispatched a reported erratic driver southbound on US 41 near the county line. A concerned citizen had dialed 911 reporting a tan Ford Taurus with an Indiana registration plate driving “all over the roadway” and “driving in the median”.

An Indiana State Police trooper and the Farmersburg Town Marshal were dispatched to the area. The Farmersburg Town Marshal believes he spotted the vehicle but before he could catch up to it, the vehicle turned off onto a county road.

Minutes later, the fatal crash was reported and the registration plate number on the erratic vehicle matched the plate number on the vehicle driven by the deceased.

The investigation is ongoing and the coroner’s office is awaiting toxicology tests and a positive identification.