COLUMBUS, Ind. (February 2, 2015) – A Columbus North High School basketball player was seriously injured in a car accident Sunday night.
According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, a car driven by Josh Speidel, 18, Columbus, collided with another vehicle at U.S. 31 and Bear Lane in Taylorsville just after 7 p.m.
Investigators said a blue Chevrolet Traverse had just exited off of I-65 and was going south when the Honda driven by Speidel entered the roadway from a perimeter road on the west side of U.S. 31. The Traverse hit the driver’s side, investigators said, causing the car to spin.
Emergency crews from the German Township Fire Department used Jaws of Life to cut Speidel out of the car. He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital and then transferred to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis. He suffered head and internal injuries in the crash. According to Trevor Andershock, contributing editor for NY2LA Sports, Speidel’s bleeding is down and pressure on the brain has been relieved.
Speidel’s passenger, Kaylee McCracken, 18, Greenwood, was taken to Columbus Regional to be treated for minor injuries. The driver of the Traverse, Janell Foley, 42, was treated and released at the scene. Foley’s two boys, ages 9 and 14, were not hurt, police said.
Investigators don’t believe speed was a factor in the crash.
Speidel is a University of Vermont recruit, and he is averaging 25.6 points and 9.3 rebounds this season. As a team, Columbus North is 14-3.
https://twitter.com/G_Weatherford/status/562107596728176640
no matter the rivals, I love that this town always comes together when something serious happens #joshstrong
— emily waskom (@ebwaskom) February 2, 2015
#JoshStrong … Prayers out to the big homie 💯 @JSpeidel24 !! Keep him in your prayers !!
— Juice (@_JThomas12) February 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/ksmitheweens23/status/562127487606353920
Prayers are so powerful #joshstrong
— Erin (@erinshuffett) February 2, 2015
Sending all my prayers #joshstrong
— Christina Andress (@christina_wx) February 2, 2015
https://twitter.com/jeffdaddy_48/status/562115658394402816
EVERYONE PRAY FOR MY BROTHER JOSH SPIEDEL.. GOT IN A HORRIBLE CAR ACCIDENT. PRAY FOR HIM PLEASE AND THANKS. 🙏❤️ #IE #JOSHSTRONG
— Kyle J Guy (@kylejguy5) February 2, 2015
Prayers out to the Speidel family tonight. Can't ever take a single day for granted. #JoshStrong
— Jocelyn Hamilton (@Hammy_Jocelyn) February 2, 2015