Clinton County dispatcher critically injured in two-vehicle accident

FRANKFORT, Ind. (WISH) — A Clinton County dispatcher was critically injured in a serious crash late Tuesday, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook Wednesday.

The dispatcher was identified as 20-year-old Kaydence Villars of Frankfort, Indiana. She is said to be in critical condition.

Around 9:46 p.m. Tuesday, Clinton County deputies responded to the area of U.S. 421 and County Rd 150 South on a report of a personal injury crash.

That intersection is 10 minutes east of Frankfort, an hour northwest of Indianapolis.

When deputies arrived, they located one vehicle on its side and another in the ditch, with both drivers entrapped.

Investigators learned that a 2023 Dodge Ram van, driven by 32-year-old Nicholas Whittenburg, of Indianapolis, was driving north on U.S. 421. Whittenburg was passing other vehicles when he collided head-on with a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by Villars.

The van rolled several times after the collision, coming to rest on its passenger side. Villar’s Volkswagen left the roadway and stopped in a ditch.

Firefighters at the scene extricated both Whittenburg and Villars. Whittenburg was taken to an Indianapolis hospital by ambulance, and Villars was taken by helicopter.

Whittenburg’s condition is unknown.

Clinton County Sheriff Rich Kelly shared Villars’ condition on a social media post Wednesday.

“Clinton County, we ask you to join us in prayers for a member of our public service family! Kaydence Villars, a dispatcher with Clinton County Central Dispatch, was involved in a serious crash (Tuesday). Please keep Kaydence, her family, friends, Central Dispatch, and fellow public servants in your thoughts and prayers today and the difficult days ahead,” Kelly said.