Monroe County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy James A. Driver, 38, has died after being involved in a collision at W. Eller Road and Ind. 45 around 4 p.m. Monday, according to MSCO Capt. of Operations Ryan Davis. Driver was responding to another accident and had his emergency lights and sirens activated.
Driver of Spencer, was driving his 2018 Dodge Charger south bound while responding to a call when a northbound 2006 GMC truck and trailer traveled into the southbound lanes colliding with Driver, according to Indiana State Police Sgt. Michael Wood.
The Bloomingtonian received the following press releases from the MSCO and State Police Monday evening:
“Media Release
March 29th, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ryan C. Davis, Captain of Operations
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
(812) 349-2784 – Office
[email protected]
On Monday, March 29th, 2021 the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was responding to a
motor vehicle accident with injuries around 4:00 P.M. While responding this accident with
emergency lights and sirens activated, Reserve Deputy James Driver was involved in a separate
accident on West State Road 45 and West Eller Road in Monroe County.
Deputy Driver was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital where he died from the injuries he sustained in
the accident. The Indiana State Police is investigating the crash. All inquiries pertaining to the
accident need to go through them.
Deputy James Driver is originally from the United Kingdom and resided in Spencer,
Indiana. He was sworn into the Monroe County Indiana Sheriff’s Office Reserve Division in June
of 2018 and was a graduate of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Academy. Deputy
Driver leaves behind a wife, Anna Driver, one daughter, and two stepchildren.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will not be responding to any inquiries on this tragic
event until after 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 30th, 2021.”
The Indiana State Police sent the following press release:
| “INDIANA STATE POLICE BLOOMINGTON DISTRICT 1500 N. Packinghouse Road, #200 Bloomington, IN 47404 www.in.gov/isp FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sergeant Michael Wood Public Information Officer 812-332-4411 March 29, 2021 |
| Two Vehicle Crash Claims the Life of On Duty Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy On March 29, 2021, at approximately 4:00 pm, emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Road 45 North of Eller Road in Monroe County. When first responders arrived it was discovered that one of the vehicles involved was occupied by a Monroe County Sheriffs Deputy. The Deputy was unconscious and unresponsive. Preliminary investigation revealed that Monroe County Deputy James A. Driver, 38 of Spencer was responding to a call and operating his 2018 Dodge Charger police vehicle with emergency lights and sirens activated. While Deputy Driver was traveling south on SR 45, a 2006 GMC truck and trailer, driven by Christopher A. Derr, 22, of Monticello, IL was traveling north in the area. Derr attempted to stop but lost control of the truck and traveled into the southbound lanes where the trailer collided with Deputy Driver’s vehicle. After the impact, Deputy Driver’s vehicle rolled off the roadway before coming to a stop. The impact caused Deputy Driver to be ejected from the vehicle. Emergency personnel then transported Deputy Driver to IU Health Bloomington Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries from the crash. Derr and his passengers were not injured in the crash but Derr was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for a voluntary blood draw and the results of those tests are pending. The investigation is ongoing. SR 45 was closed for approximately 4 ½ hours while troopers investigated the crash. Investigating Officer: Sergeant Greg Day, Indiana State Police Assisting Troopers: Sergeants Ryan Miller, Eric Russell and Master Troopers John Yung, Travis Coryea, and Senior Trooper Matt Holley -30- Wood” |
