HANCOCK COUNTY – Officials from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department said a Greenfield man has been killed following a two-vehicle, head-on crash Saturday afternoon.
Capt. Robert Harris, public information officer for the HCSD, said they have identified the deceased man as Mauro Rosalino-Gonzalez, 39, Greenfield. Harris said the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Officials from the Sheriff’s Department were called at approximately 2:10 p.m. Saturday afternoon, May 13, to the area of Washington Village Apartments on U.S. 40 (Washington Street) between Cumberland and Greenfield. Deputies arrived on the scene and immediately called for the Hancock County Fatal Accident Crash Team (F.A.C.Team) to respond because of the severity of the crash, Harris said in a release.
The crash involved a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Rosalino-Gonzalez and a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas driven by Christopher E. Wampler, 46, Evansville.
The Hyundai was occupied by only Rosalino-Gonzalez while the Volkswagen was occupied by Wampler and Kelly Poag, 45, Evansville, who was a passenger. Both Wampler and Poag were transported by ground ambulance to Methodist Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officials say the Hyundai was traveling west on U.S. 40 towards Indianapolis in the high speed (left) lane. A vehicle was stopped in the high speed (left) lane of U.S. 40 waiting to make a left turn in to Washington Village Apartments. From evidence at the scene, Harris said it appears the Hyundai took evasive action as it rapidly approached the stopped vehicle, swerving to the left.
The move caused the Hyundai to enter the eastbound high speed (left) lane of U.S. 40, into oncoming traffic. That’s when Rosalino-Gonzalez’s Hyundai struck the Volkswagen, driven by Wampler, head-on. The vehicle waiting to turn was not struck.
Officials say Rosalino-Gonzalez did not appear to be wearing a
seatbelt at the time of the crash. His family has been notified of his death.
Wampler and Poag, occupants of the Volkswagen, were wearing seatbelts during the crash. Both cooperated with the investigation and provided statements. The driver of the vehicle that was stopped, waiting to turn in to Washington Village Apartments, also provided a statement to investigators.
Harris noted that, at this time, drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor, but the investigation is ongoing. The road was closed for a about two hours while officers from the Hancock County Fatal Accident Crash Team investigated.
Harris also stated that officials from the HCSD want to remind everyone to always wear safety seat belts while in a vehicle and remain vigilant while behind the wheel.
Members of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, Greenfield Police Department, New Palestine Police Department, McCordsville Police Department, and Sugar Creek Fire Department all assisted at the scene.
