One hurt, one arrested following Ripley County head-on crash

RIPLEY COUNTY, IN — One man was injured and another driver is facing charges following a head-on crash with entrapment Sunday night between Pierceville and Delaware.

The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office says it happened at 10:17 pm at 4050 State Road 350.

53-year-old Bennett Russell of Lawrenceburg was trapped in the wreckage of his pickup truck. Once he was cut out of the vehicle, Russell was taken to Margaret Mary Health for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators say 29-year-old Benny Hartig of Holton told them he was driving west on 350 near the intersection with County Road 450 East when he saw Russell’s truck going left of center.

The Sheriff’s Office says Hartig attempted to avoid contact but his car struck Russell’s vehicle head-on.

Authorities say Hartig was treated at the scene, and then arrested for being a Habitual Traffic Violator for life.

Indiana State Police, Osgood Police Department, Ripley County EMS, the Milan Fire Department, Todd’s Affordable Wrecker, and Myers Marathon assisted at the scene.