UPDATE: Dawson Vest passed away Tuesday at a Louisville, KY hospital from injuries suffered in the collision.
Crothersville, IN — At approximately 6:30 pm Monday evening, the Indiana State Police began investigating a car versus train collision that occurred near the Jackson/Scott County Line that resulted in the driver of the car being airlifted with life-threatening injuries.
The initial investigation by crash reconstructionists from the Indiana State Police-Versailles and Sellersburg Posts indicated that a black 2018 Nissan passenger car being driven by 21-year-old Dawson A. Vest of Austin was traveling westbound on County Road 775 South, just west of US 31. For an unknown reason, Vest’s vehicle entered a railroad crossing into the path of a northbound CSX train.
The train collided with the driver’s side of the car. After the collision, the car rolled, ejecting Vest from the vehicle. Vest sustained life-threatening injuries in the crash. He was airlifted from the scene to a Louisville, KY hospital.
The crossing included railroad crossing signs as well as stop signs for traffic on County Road 775 South. County Road 775 South was closed for approximately three hours for crash cleanup and investigation. US 31 was briefly closed during the investigation.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Crothersville Police Department, Jackson County EMS, Scott County EMS, PHI Medical Helicopter, Westside Towing, CSX Railroad, and Louisville & Indiana Railroad.
The investigation is ongoing.
(Indiana State Police press release/Sgt. Stephen Wheeles)
