At approximately 5:43 p.m. Friday, officers from the Indiana State Police, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department, the Windfall Police Department, and the Tipton Police Department responded to a three-vehicle crash on State Road 213 at 2285 South, in which a Tipton, man died.
The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper Dustin Rutledge revealed that Michael Hartley, 70, Tipton, was driving a 1986 International semi-tractor that was facing southbound on State Road 213. Hartley was attempting to back the semi-tractor and a flatbed trailer into a driveway on the east side of State Road 213 at 2285 South. Hillard Grimes, 75, Tipton, was driving a 2004 BMW 330 northbound on State Road 213. Grimes purportedly did not see the flatbed trailer, which was blocking the northbound lane, as it was being backed into the driveway. The BMW hit the trailer and a piece of farm equipment that was hanging over the side of the trailer.
Rick Lawson, 52, Anderson, was driving a 2010 Subaru Forrester northbound on State Road 213 behind the BMW. Lawson was unable to stop before the Subaru hit the farm equipment that was hanging over the side of the flatbed trailer.
Grimes was pronounced deceased at the crash scene. A juvenile passenger in his vehicle, was transported to a local hospital with minor abrasions. Lawson was transported, by ambulance, to an Indianapolis hospital with serious injuries. Hartley was not injured.
The crash is still under investigation.