GREENFIELD — A 20-year-old driver from Indianapolis has died from the injuries she suffered when her car collided with a dump truck Saturday afternoon in western Hancock County.
The woman’s younger sister, a passenger in the car, is recovering from brain surgery after being rushed to the hospital, according to police.
Investigators say Grace Park was driving her 2007 Honda Accord south on County Road 525W at around 12:20 p.m. Saturday when she disregarded a stop sign at the intersection of County Road 100N.
Park’s vehicle crossed into the path of an oncoming dump truck, driven westbound by Kevin Souders, 43, of Indianapolis.
Traffic on County Road 100N is not required to stop at the intersection with County Road 525W; only north-south traffic on 525W is required to stop.
The force of the impact was severe and badly injured Park and her young sister, 14-year-old Paige Park, who was riding in the front passenger seat at the time of the accident.
Souders was not hurt. Investigators say he did not have time to stop.
Both sisters, who were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, were transported to Indianapolis hospitals.
Grace Park was taken by helicopter to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in critical condition. She died there Sunday afternoon, according to police.
Paige Park was taken by ambulance to Riley Hospital for Children, where she underwent surgery for a head injury. She was still recovering there at press time Monday.
The accident forced law enforcement to close County Road 100N for several hours while they investigated the wreck. Formally, the crash remains under investigation by the Hancock County Fatal Accident Crash Team.
Souders has cooperated with the police in the investigation. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the accident.