Brazil City employee injured in accident

Emergency response personnel worked quickly to remove the driver of this sanitation truck that overturned at the intersection of State Road 59 and SR 46 Wednesday afternoon. The roadway west of SR 59 was closed to traffic for more than two hours as workers removed the truck from the scene and cleared the road. Ivy Jacobs Photo. [Order this photo]

Shortly after 2:30 p.m., 911 dispatchers at the Clay County Justice Center were notified a sanitation truck rolled into a ditch on the south side of State Road 46 while attempting to turn west at the intersection.

According to a press release by the Clay County Sheriff's Department, the driver -- who will remain unidentified pending notification of his family and due to the ongoing investigation -- was traveling south on SR 59 and was unable to get stopped in time at the intersection.

It appeared the driver swerved in an attempt to avoid collision with another motorist stopped at the intersection, but there wasn't enough room to make a westbound turn onto State Road 46. The truck toppled over on its side and came to rest in a ditch on the south side of the intersection, knocking down a stop sign and blocking eastbound traffic.

Although initially reported unconscious and trapped, officials confirmed the driver was alert and talking to emergency personnel before being transported to Wishard Hospital by AirEvac for treatment of head injuries.

SR 46 was temporarily closed while Peffley & Hinshaw Wrecker Service removed the wrecked vehicle.

Officials with the City of Brazil confirmed to The Brazil Times the insurance company has been notified about the accident and they are waiting on the report from a claims adjuster.

Members of Indiana State Police, Center Point and Cory volunteer fire departments, Clay County Search and Rescue and TransCare responded to the scene.