By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

CLAY COUNTY - An Indianapolis man is dead after police say his vehicle was  struck by a semi when he was driving the wrong way  on Interstate 70 in Clay County early this morning.

John D. Slack, 72, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Clay County Coroner's Office. 

The semi driver was not injured in the accident.  

Indiana State Police Sgt. Matt Ames explained that Slack was  traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-70 near the 22 mile marker just after 6 a.m.   

Nitishpal S. Bhandari, 21 , of Ontario, Canada, was traveling eastbound in the passing lane, alongside another semi tractor-trailer, when he suddenly observed the 2019 BMW passenger car going the wrong way.  He was unable to avoid the collision with the BMW, Ames said.

The ISP investigation is ongoing.

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Assisting Agencies: Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Posey and Jackson Township Fire Departments, Indiana Department of Transportation and Clay County Corner's Office.

​INDIANAPOLIS – Two Indianapolis women were charged yesterday in federal court after allegedly stealing multiple items from a hospital.

United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced that the two suspects: April E. Hayworth, 31,  a member of the hospital cleaning crew and Christina A. Smith, 37, now face federal drug, conspiracy and burglary charges.   

He explained in a press release that the two women were trying to make some quick money at the cost of innocent lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, by attempting to sell the stolen morphine and hospital supplies.

According to the report, the two entered a restricted medication storage area at the Central Indiana Cancer Center and allegedly stole 30 syringes of morphine, a schedule II controlled substance.

With a covering over their heads, each individual opened multiple cabinets, removing the now- missing controlled substances, the press release states.

Agents also reportedly discovered that Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”) and other medical supplies had been stolen from the hospital, including seven boxes of isolation masks; 50 tubs of Sani-wipes; 10 containers of soap; 20 bottles of hand sanitizer; eight bottles of air deodorizer; and six tubs of bleach wipes.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers assisted agents in initiating a traffic stop on Smith. She was subsequently arrested on an outstanding warrant. Officers discovered nearly 30 carpujets of morphine in the vehicle.
  
According to Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Sawa, who is prosecuting this case for the government, each defendant faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.
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This prosecution shows the office’s strong commitment to combating fraud and criminal activity related to COVID-19, which is reflected in the creation of a Coronavirus Fraud Task Force in the Southern District of Indiana. If you receive any forms of suspicious communication related to the COVID-19 crisis, or become aware of family and friends that have received suspicious communications, I ask that you don’t respond directly but instead report the activity to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 1-866-720-5721, or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov.”