Taylorsville, IN—Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is investigating the death of a Columbus man found in a vehicle at the Circle K in Taylorsville on Friday.
A full forensic autopsy and toxicology tests were ordered for Christopher A. Purdy, 33, Columbus, after he was pronounced dead at Columbus Regional Hospital on Friday, according to Clayton Nolting, the Bartholomew County Coroner.
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department deputies were notified Friday of an intoxicated driver on southbound I-65.
The witness said the female driver, later identified as Emily A. Clarence, 27, Columbus, appeared to be nodding off and at times was swerving on and off the interstate.
Clarence exited the interstate at Taylorsville and went to the Circle K, where deputies attempted to speak with her. Clarence appeared to be falling asleep and had a cellphone in her hand.
A male passenger, later identified as Purdy, was lying on the car seat, was pale, and had blue spots on his back where his T-shirt was pulled up.
Deputies determined he was not breathing and called for an ambulance while administering two doses of Narcan and began administering CPR. Purdy was later pronounced dead at the hospital by the coroner’s office.
When Clarence was questioned, it is alleged that she says she had gone to Greenwood to pick up Purdy to bring him back to Columbus and thought he was overdosing, but that he “would come out of it” as he had done at other times.
Due to the deputies’ observations, Clarence was arrested on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Nolting said the 2019 overdose totals so far this year are nine confirmed deaths, with 10 possible in Bartholomew County.
