A well-known visitor to Switzerland County was killed and a popular high school sophomore was seriously injured Monday evening in a motorcycle wreck on Bennington Pike.
Switzerland County Sheriff Nathan E. Hughes reported that on Monday evening, May 1st, at approximately 8:30 p.m., deputies of the Switzerland County Sheriff’s Office investigated a personal injury accident in the area of 603 Bennington Pike.
The sheriff’s department was assisted at the scene by the Indiana State Police and the Switzerland County Coroner’s Office.
When deputies arrived they discovered a motorcycle had traveled off the roadway and struck a wooden fence. When deputies arrived on the scene they discovered two victims had been ejected from the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, a 16-year old Daniel Welch of Bennington Pike, was airlifted by University of Cincinnati AirCare for treatment of his injuries. He is listed in stable condition as of press time.
Friends of the family said that Daniel Welch sustained a fracture of his leg, suffered a burn on his leg, and doctors were also looking at his shoulder.
The passenger on the motorcycle, Brian Larrabee, age 46, of Lakeland Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by the Switzerland County Coroner’s Office. The preliminary death investigation revealed that Brian Larrabee succumbed to blunt force trauma to the head as a result of not wearing a helmet.
Although a resident of Florida, Brian Larrabee was well-known around Switzerland County, and came here many times to hunt and visit with friends.
Brian Larrabee was born in Muncie, Indiana, and had resided in Lakeland, Florida, since 1985. He was the owner and operator of Larrabee Construction.
His love for the outdoors, including hunting and fishing, brought him to Switzerland County on a regular basis.
Brian Larrabee is survived by his wife, Carolyn Larrabee, and a son, Landon Larrabee.
A thorough investigation to the exact cause of the accident is ongoing. Preliminary investigation reveals that neither speed nor alcohol has been a determining factor in this accident. Neither the driver nor passenger involved in this accident was wearing helmets.
Anyone with any information pertinent to this investigation is asked to contact the Switzerland County Sheriff’s Office at 427-3636. All information will be considered confidential.
Also assisting at the scene were members of the Moorefield Fire Department and Switzerland County Emergency Medical Services.
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A complete obituary of Brian Larrabee can be found on page two of today’s edition.