Greentown Man Dies in Howard County Crash.

HOWARD COUNTY, IN - This morning, at approximately 8:42 a.m., officers from the Howard County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on County Road 1100 East south of County Road 100 South, which killed a Greentown, IN. 

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Randy McPike revealed that Donald W. McDowell, Greentown, IN, was driving a 1997 Geo Tracker northbound on County Road 1100 East. South of County Road 100 South, the Geo crested a hill and encountered snow and ice which had accumulated on the road due to drifting. The Geo slid out of control and traveled off the west side of the road striking a utility pole near the driver’s door. The vehicle then flipped, coming to rest on the passenger side. The utility pole was snapped in half causing energized power lines to fall.  Workers from Duke Energy disabled the electricity.  

Donald McDowell was pronounced dead at the scene by Howard County Coroner Brad Bray. Donald’s mother, Emma McDowell, 62, Greentown, IN, was a front seat passenger in the Geo. She was transported by Lifeline Helicopter, to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, with non-life threatening injuries.  

Both occupants were wearing seat belts, but the crash impact was too severe for the safety device to prevent Donald McDowell’s fatal injuries.  

Neither alcohol nor illegal drug use is believed to be a contributing factor in this crash.  

Trooper McPike was assisted by Master Trooper Earl McCullough, Master Trooper Randy Pryor, Senior Trooper Lee Williams, the Greentown Marshal’s Office, Howard County and Greentown EMS, and Greentown Fire Department.