RIPLEY COUNTY, Ind. — A two-vehicle collision in Ripley County claimed two lives Tuesday afternoon.
Indiana State Police said the crash happened on U.S. 421 just north of Versailles around 3 p.m.
In a news release, an ISP spokesperson said their preliminary investigation indicates a dump truck was going south on the highway near County Road 100 North when, for reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control, crossed the center line and drove into the path of a northbound semi tractor-trailer. The vehicles collided nearly head-on.
The driver of the dump truck, 24-year-old Nathan M. Vogelsang of Dillsboro and his passenger, 19-year-old Landen J. W. Comer of Osgood, both were pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
The driver of the semi was not seriously injured, police said.
Crash investigators and reconstructionists were called to the scene and U.S. 421 was closed for about five hours.
Toxicology tests were ordered, police said, but there were no initial indications that impairment played a role in the crash.
