Nathan M. Vogelsang, Landen J. W. Comer Obituary, Death – On Tuesday afternoon, a tragic head-on collision on US 421 just north of Versailles claimed the lives of two Ripley County men. The accident occurred shortly before 3 p.m. and prompted a significant response from multiple first-responder agencies.
According to preliminary findings by the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, the crash involved a southbound 2001 Ford F-450 dump truck driven by 24-year-old Nathan M. Vogelsang of Dillsboro. For reasons not yet determined, Vogelsang lost control of the vehicle, causing it to cross the centerline into the northbound lane. The dump truck collided head-on with a Mack semi pulling a box trailer, driven by 34-year-old Oleh Hrudnenko of Buffalo, Illinois.
The impact of the collision was devastating. Vogelsang and his passenger, 19-year-old Landen J.W. Comer of Osgood, suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene by the Ripley County Coroner’s Office. Hrudnenko sustained only minor injuries.
Indiana State Police crash reconstruction experts were dispatched to the scene to conduct a detailed investigation. While toxicology results are pending, investigators have found no initial evidence that alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash. The cause of Vogelsang’s loss of control remains undetermined.
The accident forced the closure of US 421 for approximately five hours as authorities worked to investigate and clear the scene. Cleanup operations continued into the evening.
The families of both victims have been notified, and the community mourns their loss. Emergency responders from various agencies, including the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, Versailles Police Department, Osgood Police Department, Ripley County EMS, Versailles Fire Department, and Ripley County EMA, provided support during the incident. The Ripley County Coroner’s Office and Affordable Todd’s Wrecker Service also assisted at the scene.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the events leading to this tragic crash. For now, the accident serves as a somber reminder of the dangers of the road and the unpredictable nature of such incidents.