Ripley County Sheriff’s Office

210 North Monroe Street - PO Box 686

Versailles, In. 47042

812.689.5558

Fax: 812.689.5418

NEWS RELEASE

On Friday, December 17, 2010 at approximately 9:50 am, Ripley County Communications received a 911 report of a (2) two vehicle accident involving a large truck and a passenger car on SR 350 approximately .5 mile East of Finks Road near Osgood.

Emergency services personnel responded to the scene and found that 28 year old Tiffany D. Helms of Versailles, was traveling east on SR 350 when she lost control of her 1987 Pontiac passenger vehicle in a blind curve, and began sliding out of control. The Helms vehicle traveled into the east bound lane in the blind curve and was struck broadside by a large Best Way Disposal Services truck being operated by 59 year old Michael W. Shelton of Osgood.

The two vehicles became entangled, and skidded off the roadway on the South side; traveled down a large ravine across a creek, and came to rest on a sparsely wooded embankment.

Helms, a single mother of two young children was pronounced deceased at the scene by Ripley County Coroner Ron Buchanan, and Shelton was transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. Both drivers were entrapped for a period as the Osgood & Delaware Fire Departments worked diligently to free them.

The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident and was assisted at the scene by the Indiana State Police; Accident Re-constructionist and the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.

In addition to numerous volunteers from the two aforementioned the Fire Departments; other agencies assisting at the scene included: Ripley County Paramedics and both Rescue 69 and Rescue 30 members.

After a relatively quiet day on Thursday, December 16th, Ripley County Deputies as well as other local law enforcement began responding to numerous reports of slide-off’s shortly after 6:00 am on Friday morning, and lasting until approximately 1:00 pm. The roadways became icy throughout the county, even as both state and local highway departments worked to keep the roadway’s cleared.

As a result of the Helms/Shelton accident, SR 350 was closed between Finks Road and Baseline Road until approximately 4:30 pm.

David Pippin, Chief Deputy