Ripley County Tourney postponed
Crash claims life of JCD senior

Wanda English Burnett
Editor

A single vehicle crash has claimed the life of a Jac-Cen-Del senior.

Police say Emily M. Huntington of Osgood, was traveling northbound on CR 200 West approaching CR 100 North. The van she was operating came into the turn (a sharp turn to the east) and then began to skid sideways. It skidded into a field, hit a slight incline, which then caused the van to vault and overturn on the driver’s side ejecting Huntington, who was not wearing her seat belt. The van then came to rest on the east side of 200 West.

A passenger in the vehicle, Brooke S. Gilland, 19, also of Osgood, was examined by EMS personnel at the scene and did not appear to have any injuries. She was later taken from the scene by her parents. Gilland was wearing a seat belt according to police.

Trooper Matt Holley of the Indiana State Police investigated the scene and said he had recovered Huntington’s cellular phone and confirmed she was texting at the time of the accident. The trooper noted there was a partial text message which had not yet been sent when the crash occurred.

Since Huntington was a guard forward with the girls basketball team from Jac-Cen-Del, the Ripley County Tourney has been postponed from January 3 to Friday, January 6. The consolation game and championship game will be held on Monday, January 9 at 6 p.m.

Officials from Jac-Cen-Del school met with students on Saturday morning after the tragic accident took place Friday night.

Huntington was the daughter of Leonard Huntington of Osgood and Jodi and Jason Comer, also of Osgood.

The JCD senior was not only a member of the basketball team, but was on the golf and dance teams. She was a member of the JCD chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the National Honor Society.

Huntington was chosen Miss Sunshine for 2011 as she was a member of the Sunshine Society. She also represented her school in the Aurora Farmer’s Fair queen contest.
She was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Osgood, was employed with Subway in Versailles and volunteered at the Ripley County Humane Society.

Huntington’s plans were to attend Indiana University in the fall of 2012 and major in graphic design. She enjoyed her horses, playing her guitar, singing, and most of all baking “scrumptious” desserts.

Funeral services are being handled by Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home. Services will be held today, Tuesday, January 3 at 2 p.m at the Hopewell Baptist Church with Rev. David Shivers officiating.. Burial in the Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles.

See full obituary inside today’s paper.

JCD senior Emily M. Hungtington, pictured above, lost her life in a crash on Friday night after she wrecked the van pictured below she was driving on CR 200 West.