Passenger dies in crash on Bean Blossom Road

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SPEARSVILLE — A pickup truck passenger died and the driver was taken to a hospital after a crash on Bean Blossom Road Sunday afternoon.

Michelle D. Clark, 54, and Stephen C. Clark, 70, both Martinsville, were in a Ford F150 that hit a tree in the 7800 block of Bean Blossom Road, near Ayers Road, at 2:27 p.m., according to a police report by Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Stargell.

Michelle Clark died at the scene; Stephen Clark was taken to Johnson Memorial Hospital with “incapacitating” injuries, including severe bleeding to his face, the police report said.

One witness told police that he was behind the truck, southbound on Bean Blossom Road, and it was driving normally until it met a large dually pickup that was traveling north. The witness said the oncoming truck was large and the road was narrow, and Stephen Clark’s tires left the road. When he tried getting back on the road, he overcorrected, lost control and hit a tree with the passenger-side door.

Another witness, coming from the opposite direction, reported the same, and so did Stephen Clark.

Both witnesses found Michelle Clark with no pulse, the report said. One started CPR.

The Clarks were both wearing seatbelts and the airbags deployed, but because of the position of the vehicle when it struck the tree, those safety measures were not effective, the report said.

Two dogs were also in the vehicle. One was killed as it was attempting to get in the front seat during the crash; it may have been thrown into the windshield, the report said. Brown County Animal Control took possession of the other dog, which had critical injuries, the report said.

The road was closed for about three hours while multiple agencies worked the scene, including county and town officers, Columbus Regional Hospital Ambulance, Hamblen Township and Cordry-Sweetwater volunteer fire departments and the coroner’s office.

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Sara Clifford has been raising a family in Brown County since 2005 and leading the Brown County Democrat since late 2009. In addition to editor, she is the beat reporter for town government and writes columns, features and general news stories.

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