From Staff Reports
PAOLI — Two Washington men are in serious condition at the University of Louisville hospital following a wreck in Orange County early Sunday morning.
Seriously injured were Max Sterlin Rayhill and Shawn Cody Evans, both 20 years old. Also in the vehicle was Sarah Marie Petry, 19, Montgomery. She is listed in fair condition.
The incident began when several people called 911 reporting a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on SR 37 north of Paoli. The callers reported the vehicle was making illegal passes and running vehicles off the road.
A Paoli police officers located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on the silver 2002 Pontiac Grand Am; however, the driver refused to stop and traveled through the town of Paoli and eastbound on U.S. 150. The office decided that the speed involved was dangerous and discontinued pursuit; however, the Grand Am continued east at a high rate of speed until the driver lost control of the vehicle, slid across the roadway and impacted a stone embankment on the north side.
Due to the extreme speed at the time, the vehicle spun several times and ejected Rayhill and Evans, then came to rest facing west. Evans was thrown more than 100 feet from the vehicle and was found in the brush near Lick Creek. Since responding officers were unsure how many occupants had been in the vehicle, it was an hour before Evans was found. Petry was found inside the vehicle.
All three were airlifted to Louisville.
Paoli police, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and a state police trooper from the Jasper Post responded to the scene. U.S. 150E was closed to all traffic for about 90 minutes.
Since two occupants were ejected, officers are still investigating to determine who was driving.
Preliminary information indicates that the vehicle was stolen from a residence in Mitchell. A full investigation is ongoing.
