Fillmore, IN- Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a call about a crash involving a Polaris Razor near Heritage Lake. Robert Drake, 27, of Fillmore, was transported to the hospital with complaints of back pain. Hayden Salapek, 20, of Warren, Pennsylvania was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident took place around 2:20 a.m. this morning at the intersection of County Road 500 North and County Road 705 East. Salapek was found unresponsive in the roadway after being ejected from the driver’s seat of the ORV. A helicopter was initially dispatched to airlift victims, but was later disregarded.
Drake was reported to have been wearing the factory installed safety harness in the passenger seat at the time of the crash, and was driven by friends to Hendricks County Regional Hospital to be medically evaluated. No helmets were being worn by either victim during the crash.
Indiana Conservation Officers are currently investigating the incident, and an autopsy is being completed October 1, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute. No foul play is suspected at this time, but alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor.
Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Putnam County Operation Life Ambulance Service, Putnam County Coroner’s Office, Bainbridge Community Fire Department, Floyd Township Fire Department, and Indiana State Police all assisted at the scene.
