Students hurt in crash near Hauser – 5 PM UPDATE

Four Hauser High School students were hurt, one of them seriously, in a Wednesday crash near the school. Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies and Hope Police responded at noon to the scene at State Road 9 and County Road 600 North where two vehicles collided.

Authorities say driver of a truck and trailer, 26-year-old Jonathan Tappe, of Taylorsville, was headed south on State Road 9 when a car driven by 17-year-old Sarah Vanderlind, of Hope, pulled out in front of him from County Road 600 North. Tappe’s truck crashed into the passenger side of Vanderlind’s car.

The Sheriff’s Department says that three passengers in Vanderlind’s vehicle had to be extricated by Columbus Fire Department Squad 2. One student, 17-year-old Erin Newcomb, of Columbus, was Lifelined to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Three of the students, Vanderlind, 16-year-old Veronica McKinney, of Hope, and 17-year-old John Bragg, of Hope, were transported to Columbus Regional Hospital. Tappe was not hurt.

State Road 9 remained closed for about three hours.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with these students, Hauser High School and all of Hope,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers.