- On Monday, May 08, 2017 at approximately 4:30 AM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to US Hwy 41 and E. Mt Pleasant Road upon report of a rollover crash involving injury.
- Upon arrival, deputies found a 2013 Toyota Tacoma on its top with three victims trapped inside. A fourth victim had managed to crawl out of the vehicle. Scott Township Fire Department firefighters were able to free the trapped occupants, all of which were transported to Deaconess Hospital for treatment.
The 2013 Toyota was being driven by Mr. Ernest Margelot of Owensboro, KY. Mr. Margelot had been north bound on US 41 when a 1999 Dodge Ram driven by Mr. Darrin Vogel of Evansville failed to yield and entered his path from southbound US 41. The vehicles collided, causing the Toyota to rollover 6 or 7 times and land on its roof.
All four occupants of the Toyota were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. None of the occupants were ejected, despite the the vehicle rolling over multiple times. The vehicle was equppied with both front and rear side airbags (SABs), which deployed during the collison.
Frontal air bags have been standard equipment in all passenger cars since 1998 and all SUVs, pickups and vans since 1999. SABs are now offered as standard or optional equipment on new passenger vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that seat belts have saved 147,246 lives in the period 1975-2001, and that air bags saved 8,369 lives between 1987 and 2001.
DRIVER 1:Â
Darrin Voegel, 51 Evansville, IN
DRIVER 2:
Ernest Marelot, 41, Owensboro, KY
