Press Release

FULTON — A Monticello man was injured after a tree fell on his vehicle in Fulton County.

Around 4:13 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, officers from the Indiana State Police and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-vehicle crash at 9592 S. SR 25.

The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper Dustin Rutledge revealed that Hunter Smolek, 22, Monticello, was driving a 2021 Ford F150 Supercrew pickup truck south on SR 25 when a tree from the west side of the road fell on top of the Ford, trapping Smolek.

Firefighters from the Twelve Mile and Liberty Township Fire Departments had to extricate Smolek, who was taken in critical condition to a Lafayette hospital. At last check, Smolek was talking and alert.

At the time of the crash, there was a storm with heavy winds passing through the area.

The Indiana Department of Transportation utilized a payloader to remove the tree from SR 25, which was closed for about two and a half hours.

Trooper Rutledge was also assisted at the crash scene by ISP Sergeant Tony Slocum, Trooper Jesse Reason, Fulton County EMA, and Lutheran EMS.