Van crashes through billboard, sends 3 to hospital

RICHMOND, Ind. (WISH) – Three people were taken to a local area hospital after a car accident that took them through a billboard off the side of I-70, police say.

Indiana State Police, Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, Richmond Fire Department and Spirit EMS reported to a report of a single vehicle crash on eastbound I-70, near the 155-mile marker, just west of US 40 at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Friday.

After a short investigation, police say the driver of a 2004 Dodge Durango said he had fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the van to leave the road, travel 600 feet, crash through a billboard and come to rest on the van’s driver side.

The driver, Adam Schutte, 29, was taken to Reid Hospital in Richmond with non-life-threatening head injuries.

The front seat passenger, Latisha Bell, 27, was transported to Reid Hospital with non-life-threatening neck and back injuries.

And Diana Schutte, 66, was taken to Reid Hospital with chest and back pain.