Four injured during separate Thursday afternoon crashes

 Four people were injured during two separate single vehicle crashes in Whitley County Thursday afternoon that happened within less than three hours of one another, according to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department.

The first accident occurred on Highway 511 about 3 p.m. when April Johnson, 34, of East Bernstadt, was traveling east in a Chevrolet Camaro and lost control of her vehicle while coming out of a curve, Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said in a press release.

The Camaro left the road way and struck a large stump causing severe damage to the vehicle.

Johnson suffered injuries to her abdomen and was transported by to Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin for treatment.

"Wet roadways appear to be a contributing factor to the crash," Harrell noted.

Johnson was wearing a seatbelt, which saved her from further injury, Harrell added.

Sgt. Dave Lennon investigated the accident and was assisted at the scene by Deputy John Hill and members of the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department.

The second crash happened shortly before 5:30 p.m. on US25W near Pleasant View when a Ford Expedition driven by Brenda Everage, 54, of the Black Oak community, was traveling south.

Everage lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway and struck an embankment.

While Everage appeared not to be wearing a seatbelt, both of her passengers, James Everage and a juvenile, were wearing seatbelts, Harrell said.

Brenda Everage suffered head and neck injuries during the crash while her passengers received only minor injuries.

Whitley County EMS transported all occupants in the vehicle to Baptist Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Lennon is investigating the crash and was assisted at the scene by Sgt. Ken Shepherd, Deputy Brian Lawson, Deputy John Hill, the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department and Whitley County EMS.