ICN file photo
By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News SULLIVAN COUNTY - A Texas woman was transported to a Terre Haute hospital after falling out of a moving SUV on a Sullivan County highway yesterday. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office investigation revealed Madeline Vipperman, 23, was not wearing a seatbelt, and had been leaning with her back against the door when it opened due to a faulty latch. Vipperman was a rear seat passenger in a 2014 Kia SUV, driven by her husband, when the door unexpectedly came open just before 8 p.m. The passenger door had sustained damage from a previous accident. Her injuries are not life-threatening. "A Knox County Ambulance came upon the female laying in the roadway and immediately rendered first aid," Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom said, noting the victim suffered abrasions and contusions from the fall. She was then transported to the hospital by SCAT Ambulance. Cottom said the accident is reminder to all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, even when riding in the back seat of a vehicle. "This incident could have ended up deadly had the female been struck by oncoming traffic," Cottom said.
According to the report, the vehicle was southbound on US 41, near Frakes Street, when the woman fell out of the SUV. The family of five was traveling through Sullivan County while reportedly returning home to Texas after vacationing.
Sullivan City Police and Fire assisted at the scene. Comments are closed.
|
Lucy Perry
|
RSS Feed
|
|
