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Last updated on Thursday, August 9, 2012
(SALEM) - A 2-year-old boy was killed in a single vehicle crash Friday evening in which speed is believed to have been a factor.
2-year-old Hayden M. Overton, of Indianapolis, died at the scene. He suffered severe head injuries in the rollover crash, said Deputy Larry Motsinger of the Washington County Sheriff's Department.
Stephanie Taylor Ferriell of the Leader-Democrat reports that there were six people in the vehicle, only one other sustained any serious injuries.
That was the other small child, 23-month-old Elijah Isaacs Jr. He was seated in the back seat, behind the front seat passenger. While Overton was behind the driver, 19-year-old Elijah M. Isaacs Sr., of 5627 S. Blue River Church Rd., Salem.
Also in the backseat, between the infant boys, were two teenagers. Darian Graw, 14, and Harley Graw, 13, of 5727 S. Blue River Church Rd. They are Isaacs Sr.'s sisters, said Motsinger.
He said Isaacs told him both boys were his children. The other person in the vehicle was Mariah Taylor, 17, Isaacs Sr.'s girlfriend. She lives at 127 S. 13th St., Richmond.
Motsinger said the crash was reported at 6 p.m. and he and Deputy Joe Keltner both arrived within about six minutes of the 911 call.
When he topped the hill at Daisy Lane and East Blue River Church Road, Motsinger said he came upon several people in a driveway, where care was being administered to Isaacs Jr.
"There was no vehicle visible," said Motsinger.
When he spoke with Isaacs Sr., he told the deputy he hit gravel in the roadway, leading to the crash. Isaacs estimated the vehicle speed at 50 miles per hour.
Motsinger said the van, a 2000 Ford Windstar, went airborne as Isaacs crested a hill. It bottomed out and Isaacs swerved left, then overcorrected, narrowly missing a utility pole.
The van went over an embankment, rolling over several times before coming to rest on its wheels in the woods about 30 feet from the roadway.
Motsinger said the vehicle traveled about 400 feet from the time Isaacs lost control until it stopped.
Isaacs told officers he and the others got out of the van, grabbed the small boys and ran for help.
All the other occupants were taken to St. Vincent Salem Hospital. Isaacs Jr. was transferred to Kosair Children's Hospital; the others were treated at St. Vincent and released.
Motsinger said an Indiana State Police reconstructionist was called to the scene. That report won't be completed for several weeks.
He said it appears speed was a definite factor. At least some of the four back seat occupants were apparently improperly restrained as well, he said.
Motsinger also noted that the back seat either wasn't bolted down properly or was ripped loose during the crash.
"It was in the car, but leaning sideways," he said.
The crash remains under investigation.
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