Just over an hour apart on Sunday morning, two men were allegedly responsible for two impaired driving crashes into Johnson County Sheriff’s Office vehicles. One of the crashes resulted in a non-life-threatening injury to Deputy Clint Abbott.
Investigating agencies believe the intoxication of the drivers is the main factor in both of the accidents.
“When a person gets behind the wheel of a vehicle while impaired by an alcoholic beverage or illegal narcotics, they put everyone on the road in danger,” said Duane Burgess, Johnson County sheriff.
Accident with injury
Fabion S. Craig, 21 of Greenwood, was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, possession of a controlled substance, driving while suspended resulting in injury, and resisting law enforcement.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:48 a.m. Sunday on Morgantown Road south of Old Smith Valley Road in White River Township. A white Toyota RAV4, driven by Craig hit the deputy’s car head-on as the deputy was on his way to respond to a domestic dispute in the area, according to a crash report compiled by Bargersville Police.
The driver that struck the deputy’s vehicle was believed to have been left of center. The deputy was traveling north and the other vehicle was traveling south on Morgantown Road, the report says.
When Craig was asked by Bargersville Police what he remembers about the crash, he told them it was “blurry.” He recalled leaving the Speedway at Morgantown Road and Smith Valley Road and heading south “and then nothing” more, the report says.
Abbott conducted an emergency maneuver into the southbound lane in an attempt to avoid the vehicle, but he told police Craig over-corrected and went back into the southbound lane, which caused the two cars to collide head-on.
Both the deputy and the other driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Johnson Memorial Hospital via White River Township Fire Department ambulance. After being checked out at JMH, the deputy was transported to an Indianapolis hospital for surgery on his broken leg, Burgess said.
“Our prayers have been answered that he’s going to be OK,” Burgess said.
Abbott had surgery Monday morning on the multiple fractures he sustained during the crash and is doing well, Burgess said.
Burgess is grateful the crash was not more severe, but concerned at the level of carelessness impaired driving shows. Whether using a cell phone or driving while drunk or on drugs, people should think more about other drivers on the road and make safer choices, Burgess said.
“It is very upsetting. I’m glad both of my officers are going to be OK,” Burgess said. “I’m upset because it could’ve been a whole lot different.”
Other accident
Jacobee A. Doolin, 31 of Greenwood, was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated as a class A misdemeanor.
This crash occurred at 1:09 a.m. while Sgt. Troy Montgomery was on routine patrol in Franklin. He was traveling eastbound on King Street, approaching Umbarger Lane. As he approached the intersection, a red Dodge Avenger turned from westbound to southbound in front of him, according to an accident report compiled by Franklin Police.
Montgomery attempted to navigate around the vehicle but was unable to do so and the right side of Doolin’s Dodge Avenger was struck. The driver of the Avenger failed to yield the right away, the accident report says.
No injuries were reported in this accident, the report says.
