A Fortville woman was flown to Methodist Hospital from an accident scene north of Ingalls after her car rolled over and she was thrown out, breaking several bones.
Cynthia L. McConnell, 28, received a broken pelvis, wrist and ankle -- all non-life-threatening injuries, said Madison County Sheriff's Department Capt. John Coogan.
Ryan M. Roy, 25, Anderson, was driving a 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo northbound on U.S. 36 near County Road 575 West around 8 p.m. Tuesday when McConnell, in a 1999 Ford Expedition, came up behind him, Coogan said.
"He got rear-ended. Her left front hit his right rear. She went around him on the right side (on the shoulder)," Coogan said. "She hit him, went around him, cut back across in front of him and went off the road on the left hand side."
McConnell's car then went up onto an elevated embankment, rolled over on some railroad tracks, and came back down off the tracks, resting right side up, Coogan said.
McConnell wasn't wearing a seat belt and was thrown from her car.
Meanwhile, Roy maintained control of his car. His car was only slightly damaged and he received no injuries, Coogan said.
When police arrived, McConnell was unconscious. They called for a Lifeline helicopter, and McConnell regained consciousness just before being transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Although police are awaiting blood test results that would determine McConnell's blood-alcohol level, Coogan said that McConnell's behavior, speech and alcoholic odor all indicate that she had been drinking.
Speed was also a factor, he said.
"She was coming up behind him and witnesses didn't see any brake lights and no attempts to slow down," Coogan said. "It appears as a last reaction she swerved to the right (and hit Roy's car.)"
From the spot of impact, to the area where McConnell's car came to rest, the distance was 1,230 feet.
On average, the distance between the accident area to the resting place is usually between 200 to 300 feet, Coogan said.
"It is pretty safe to say she was exceeding the speed limit. (Based on) the distance covered there was some excessive speed involved," he said.
