Joseph L. Arthur Obituary, Death – A fatal head-on collision occurred early Wednesday morning, November 27, on US 421 in southern Decatur County, resulting in the death of an Indianapolis man. The crash took place shortly before 7 a.m. and involved two vehicles. According to an initial investigation by troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, a 2010 Pontiac driven by 47-year-old Joseph L. Arthur from Indianapolis was traveling southbound on US 421, near County Road 700 E, close to the Decatur/Ripley County line. For reasons that are still unknown, Arthur lost control of his vehicle, causing it to cross the center line and enter the path of an oncoming 2014 Freightliner semi-truck. The semi, driven by 55-year-old Michael S. Olsen of Charlotte, Michigan, was heading north on US 421.
The two vehicles collided nearly head-on in the northbound lane of the highway. Arthur suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Decatur County Coroner’s Office. Meanwhile, Olsen’s semi caught fire immediately after the impact. Despite the fire, Olsen was able to escape the vehicle with only minor injuries.
In response to the crash, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionists were called to the scene to document the scene and reconstruct the events leading up to the collision. While the investigation is ongoing, preliminary evidence suggests that speed may have played a contributing role in the crash.
Following the accident, US 421 was closed in both directions for about five hours to allow for the investigation and cleanup of the scene.
Troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post were assisted by several local agencies, including the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, Greensburg Police Department, as well as emergency medical and fire personnel from Ripley County EMS, Decatur County EMS, Greensburg Fire Department, Napoleon Fire Department, and the Decatur County Coroner’s Office. Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and TDS Towing also provided assistance during the incident.
The investigation is still underway as authorities work to determine the exact cause of the crash.
