For The Daily Journal
A Columbus North basketball player is in the hospital, and a Greenwood girl is recovering at home after an accident Sunday night.
A Honda driven by Josh Speidel, 18, of Columbus, collided with another vehicle at U.S. 31 and Bear Lane in Taylorsville just after 7 p.m. Sunday. The Honda was struck in the driver’s side, and Speidel had to be extricated from the vehicle by German Township firefighters using the Jaws of Life, authorities said.
A passenger in Speidel’s car, Kaylee McCracken, 18, of Greenwood, was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries, according to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
McCracken, who is a senior and plays basketball at Whiteland Community High School, was treated and released. She was resting at home Monday and should be able to return to school later this week, her stepfather, Rick Stephens, said.
Speidel was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital and then transferred to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis. Sheriff’s deputies said Speidel suffered head and internal injuries.
The door and the roof of the Honda had to be cut off to remove Speidel from the vehicle, according to sheriff’s deputies. Deputies T.A. Smith and Leah Burton said the accident happened in front of a gas station at Bear Lane
Preliminary investigation showed a southbound Chevy, driven by Janell Foley, 42, of Columbus, had just exited Interstate 65 and was traveling south when the Honda entered the roadway from a street on the west side of U.S. 31.
Foley was treated at the scene; and her two sons, ages 9 and 14, were not injured.
Columbus North coach Jason Speer went to the Indianapolis hospital to support Speidel’s family.
Speidel, who signed to play basketball at Vermont, is averaging 25.6 points and 9.3 rebounds for Columbus North this season.