BEDFORD – A Bedford woman suffered serious injuries after being involved in a three-vehicle accident at the intersection of State Road 37 and 16th Street on Friday afternoon.
According to a Bedford Police report, 31-year-old Heather Smith, of Bedford, was initially unconscious and incapacitated due to her injuries and could not recall what had occurred to cause the crash.
Police say, Toby Kimmel, 46, of Bedford, who was driving a Kenworth 548 tow truck owned by Mikels Towing and Recovery, was stopped at the stop light in the east-southbound lane of travel when the tow truck was struck in the rear by Smith’s Pontiac Montana.
The impact forced the tow truck into the rear of a Ford Focus in also stopped at the light driven by Paula Arnold, 64, of Bedford.
According to police, witnesses reported Smith was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Smith was freed from the wreckage by Bedford Fire Department firefighters.
Once free she was transported by an IU LifeLine ambulance to IU Health Hospital and later flown to another hospital for treatment.
The total estimate of all damages stemming from the crash was estimated between $10,000 to $250,000.
Smith’s vehicle was the only vehicle required to be towed and was towed by Stone City Collision.
Traffic in the southbound lane of Indiana State Road 37 was blocked for several minutes as emergency crews worked the accident.
Within minutes another traffic accident with possible injuries was being investigated on 16th Street near James Avenue. Bedford Police and Bedford Fire Department responded to that accident, along with IU Lifeline Ambulance.
