Elizabethtown man killed in crash

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Husband and wife were traveling in the above vehicle, when the below pictured vehicle crossed the centerline on SR 129 just south of Versailles, taking the life of Lenord R. Sheldon, Jr., 66, of Elizabethtown.

A two vehicle crash in Ripley County has claimed the life of a man from Elizabethtown.

On Saturday, July 30 around 4:00 p.m. troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post began investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred on State Road 129, just south of Versailles, that claimed the life of a Bartholomew County man.

The initial investigation was conducted by Master Trooper Ben Bastin who said that a blue 2006 Ford F-350, being driven by Rebecca R. Ashcraft, 68 of Vevay, was traveling northbound on State Road 129 near Benham Road in Ripley County. For an unknown reason, Ashcraft’s vehicle crossed the centerline into the path of a southbound silver 2015 Ford Escape, being driven by Lenord R. Sheldon, Jr., 66, of Elizabethtown. The vehicles collided head-on in the southbound lanes of State Road 129.

As a result of the collision, Sheldon sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ripley County Coroner’s Office. Sheldon’s wife, Beth A. Sheldon, 59 was a passenger in his vehicle and sustained serious injuries. She was taken by medical helicopter to University of Cincinnati Hospital for further treatment. Ashcraft was taken to Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville, where she was treated for minor injuries.

Trooper Bastin was assisted at the crash by re-constructionists from the Indiana State Police-Versailles and Sellersburg Posts along with numerous additional troopers from the ISP-Versailles Post. Also assisting were police from the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, Holton Police Department, Versailles Fire Department, Ripley County EMS, Stat Flight and the Ripley County Coroner’s Office.

The investigation is ongoing.