Scooter, dump truck crash claims life

Just a little before 9:00 a.m. last Friday, August 1 a crash involving a 2022 Kymco motor scooter and a dump truck claimed the life of Paul R. Schwarte, 71, Versailles, who was operating the scooter.

According to information from ISP, troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post were requested to respond to US 421 (South Adams Street) at Clearview Lane in Versailles to investigate the crash.

The initial investigation by the police Crash Reconstruction Team indicated that shortly before 9:00 a.m. Paul Schwarte was traveling eastbound on Clearview Lane, approaching US 421. Schwarte’s vehicle entered US 421 into the path of a northbound 2004 Mack dump truck being driven by Thomas Sheets, 40, also of Versailles.

Schwarte’s vehicle struck the driver’s side of Sheets’ vehicle. Schwarte was ejected from the scooter as a result of the collision and sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ripley County Coroner’s Office.

Sheets was not injured.

Due to the nature of the crash, initial responding officers from the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office requested that Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionists respond to the scene to investigate the crash. While Toxicology results are pending, alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.

Troopers from the ISP-Versailles Post, Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, Versailles Police Department, Ripley County EMS, Versailles Fire Department and Ripley County Coroner’s Office assisted at the scene.

Schwarte’s son, Nick, took to social media to post the tragic news. He noted he will forever be thankful for his dad. “I’ll definitely miss the daily phone calls and taking him to his doc appointments. He knows I love him and I know he loves me,” Nick wrote.

The roadway was closed for about two hours due to the crash.