Monthly Archives: May 2023

Driver dies in weekend Brown County accident

A driver is facing a slew of charges after a Saturday afternoon accident in Brown County left another driver dead.

According to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, rescue workers were called to South State Road 135 and Orchard Road at about 3:10 p.m. Saturday afternoon after an accident between a pickup and a car.

Deputies say that the driver of the car was speeding eastbound when the vehicle launched at the top of a hill, flying into the roof of a westbound pickup. The pickup driver, 46-year-old Kevin Sullivan of Indianapolis was pronounced dead at the scene by the Brown County coroner’s office.

The car flipped end over end before landing on its roof and then catching fire.

A passenger in the car, 37-year-old Silvio Padillo of Indianapolis was flown to an Indianapolis hospital by IU Health Lifeline helicopter and is in critical condition.

According to police reports, speed and alcohol are believed to have contributed to the crash.

The driver of the car, 21-year-old Jaffet J. Zelaya of Indianapolis was arrested on charges including criminal recklessness or aggressive driving resulting in death and resulting in serious injury, driving while suspended resulting in death, driving under the influence resulting in death, possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Early voting ends at noon today; Polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday

There is still time to vote early before tomorrow’s primary election in Indiana. Early voting closes at noon today.

In Bartholomew County you can vote early at Nexus Park, the former Fair Oaks Mall starting at 8 a.m.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow for the municipal elections at eight vote centers in the county. Those will be at Flintwood Wesleyan Church, St. Johns Masonic Lodge, NexusPark, Donner Center, River of Living Water Christian Church, Barth. Co. Governmental Office Building, Terrace Lake Church and Westside Community Church.

Local government offices will be closed on Tuesday because of the election. However, all Columbus trash and recycling routes will be running on their normal schedule. The Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, normally held on Tuesdays, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Columbus City Council has canceled its Tuesday night meeting.