2 taken to hospitals via medical helicopters after Howard County crash

HOWARD COUNTY, Ind. — Two people were taken to hospitals in medical helicopters after a crash in Howard County on Tuesday morning.

According to a press release, members of the Galveston Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to the intersection of County Road 550 North and U.S Highway 31 around 6:44 a.m. When crews arrived at the scene, they located a crashed box truck with two individuals trapped inside it.

GVFD reported that the truck rolled over during the crash and came to rest upside down and against a row of trees.

The box truck’s passenger managed to exit the vehicle before GVFD arrived at the scene. Howard County medics transported the passenger from the crash scene to a local hospital. The truck’s passenger was then transferred from one medical facility to another via helicopter.

As medics transported the truck’s passenger from the scene to the hospital, GVFD crews worked to free the truck’s driver, who could not get out of the vehicle on their own.

GVFD reported that the driver’s side of the truck sustained severe damage during the crash. For that reason, crews opted to try to free the driver via the passenger side of the truck.

Firefighters used a chainsaw to cut away tree limbs and other debris that were preventing first responders from entering the truck through its passenger side door. Once GVFD crews gained access to the passenger side door, they used hydraulic tools to pry it open.

After they got the door open, crews found the driver pinned down by the truck’s collapsed roof. A wrecker was then called to get the truck turned upright.

Once the truck was upright, crews used hydraulic tools to free the driver. The driver was removed from the truck and flown from the scene to a hospital to have their injuries treated.

GVFD did not provide updates on the medical statuses of the box truck’s driver and passenger. No information on the exact cause of the crash has been made available.

The fire department is encouraging those with additional information on the crash to contact the Howard County Sheriff’s Office at (765) 457-1105.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.