RIPLEY CO. – On, Wednesday, May 30, a Brookville, Indiana woman was struck and killed while trying to remove a tree from a Ripley County, roadway.
The initial investigation by Trooper Stephen Stoneking indicated that at approximately 10:00 pm last night, two vehicles drove up on a tree blocking St. Mary’s Road near County Road 1500 North in northern Ripley County, Indiana.
Two occupants of one vehicle, Timothy Back, 64, and Ann Back, 53, both of Brookville, IN were standing outside of the vehicle attempting to remove the tree along with the driver of the second vehicle.
A third vehicle, a 2022 Kia passenger car being driven by Ryan Giltner, 28, of Brookville, Indiana was traveling north on St. Mary’s Road when his vehicle struck a tree in the roadway. Timothy and Ann Back were both struck in the collision.
Timothy Back and Ryan Giltner sustained minor injuries in the collision. Ann Back sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ripley County Coroner’s Office.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors although toxicology tests are pending.
The investigation is ongoing by Trooper Stephen Stoneking, with the assistance of the Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team.
Ann Back’s family has been notified.
The Indiana State Police was also assisted by the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, Sunman Fire and EMS, Ripley County EMS, Ripley County Coroner’s Office, and Buckley’s Towing.
