36 Year old Frankfort Mother Killed in Clinton County Crash – 4 Children in Vehicle

Crystal Ragan (36) of Frankfort was partially ejected from the vehicle she was driving when a collision occurred with another vehicle at the intersection of County Road 700 North and State Road 75 on Monday, June 28^th.  Fox 59 News also reported that two of the 4 children in Ragan’s vehicle were ejected as well.  Ragan was pronounced dead at the scene.  The condition of the children was not known, but two of them were flown to a Lafayette hospital.  The driver of the second vehicle was reportedly not wearing her seatbelt and was entrapped under the dashboard on the passenger side of the vehicle she was driving.

Clinton County Sheriff Rich Kelley reported that the helicopters got to the scene quickly and three of the victims were transported via air within 25-40 minutes.  The crash remains under investigation.  Sheriff Kelley stated that they were doing a thorough investigation to determine exactly what happened as to be able to give the families answer as to actions that led to the horrific crash.

Seatbelts Save Lives

The best decision you and your passengers can make when getting in a vehicle is to buckle up and buckle up correctly.  According to the NHTSA, the national use rate for seatbelts in 2020 was 90.3%.  Here are some guidelines from the NHTSA on how to buckle up safely:

• The lap belt and shoulder belt are secured across the pelvis and rib cage, which are better able to withstand crash forces than other parts of your body.
• Place the shoulder let across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.
• The lap belt rests across your hips, not your stomach.
• NEVER put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm.

Car Crashes are a Leading Cause of Death for Children Under 13

The NHTSA reports that 46% of car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly. Visit their website for a full guide on how to:

• Find the right car seat.
• Install the car seat correctly.
• Register the car seat so that you can receive safety updates and recall notices.

Any time we get in a vehicle to go somewhere there are many risks involved.  Let us make sure we are all doing our part to protect ourselves and our children by correctly using seat belts and car seats.

Involved in a Car Collision?

If you are involved in a crash caused by another motorist in Indiana, our knowledgeable accident lawyers are ready to help. An accident can be devastating if you have suffered serious injuries, or if you have lost a loved one. Please call our talented Indiana truck accident lawyers at the law offices of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. We will help you determine the cause of the wreck and hold those responsible accountable. You can reach us online by filling out a contact form, and a representative from our office will get in touch with your shortly.  You may also reach us at 1-800-746-0226.

I would invite you to check out my recently published book Semitruck Wreck: A Guide for Victims and Their Families as well as my “After the Crash Podcast” videos on Youtube where I discuss in detail things that you will find helpful, especially if you’ve been in a recent crash.