Frank Denzler
A single-vehicle accident in the 6000 block of South Base Road claimed the life of a Morristown man, later identified as Brett Robinson, 40, and injured his 12-year-old daughter. The incident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday.
There were no witnesses to the tragic accident; however, a nearby neighbor knew something had happened when his electrical power went out.
According to Bruce Anderson, shortly after he went to investigate he found downed power lines, a heavily damaged pickup truck and a distraught young girl saying her dad was not moving, not far from his residence.
“My electric went off and I went up to check the hog barn to see if the power was off up their too. When I pulled up, I saw the truck and the downed lines so I pulled up a little further and stopped to call it in when this girl was running back down the road toward my truck screaming for help,” Anderson said.
According to investigating officer deputy Doug Keith of the Rush County Sheriff’s Department, Robinson and his daughter were northbound on Base Road when, after crossing CR 600S, he apparently struck standing water on the road and lost control of his 2005 Ford pickup truck.
It appears the vehicle left the east side of the county road and went airborne before striking a RushShelby pole. Once the truck came to rest, Robinsons’ daughter was able to free herself and managed to avoid touching energized electrical lines as she went in search of help.
The force of impact sheared the pole nearly five feet above the ground.
The truck then came to rest upright facing east in a nearby field with live power lines on top of the vehicle.
As a result of the live power lines responders were unable to reach the driver, who was later determined to have been killed instantly due to massive internal injuries, and stood nearby as they awaited the arrival of RushShelby personnel.
“There is nothing I can do, all I can do is wait until the power is turned off. I can not put myself or others in a dangerous position,” an unidentified responder said.
Once the power was cut off, medical and fire personnel worked to gain access to the trapped driver. During the process of rolling and striking the power pole, the roof of the truck collapsed on top of the driver, pinning him inside.
To gain access responders had to remove the roof and drivers side door of the Ford.
As a result of his injuries Robinson was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.
The young passenger was treated at the scene by medical personnel from Anderson Township Volunteer Fire Department, Milroy EMS and RMH Ambulance for a head laceration and an injured hand. She was later transported to RMH.
Responding to the accident were units from the RCSD, ATVF, Milroy EMS, RMH Ambulance, Davis Towing, RushShelby Energy and the Rush County Coroner’s office.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
