A quiet stretch of north‑eastern Indiana turned chaotic Wednesday when 46‑year‑old Larry W. Webster II of Aurora allegedly turned a routine crash into something far more serious. Authorities say Webster rear‑ended another vehicle while driving northbound on U.S. 421 near Michigan Road in northern Jefferson County. Then things escalated.
According to the Indiana State Police (ISP), after the initial collision the other driver got out of his car — right then Webster allegedly struck the vehicle again and hit the standing driver. The motive? As of now, unclear. What is clear: the victim was injured and taken to a hospital.
Webster didn’t stay around. Troopers discovered his 1991 Chevrolet truck abandoned on Old Michigan Road in southern Ripley County and found him walking nearby. When they attempted to take him into custody, an altercation ensued and an ISP trooper was hurt. The trooper received treatment and was released.
Reporting states Webster himself was hospitalized initially at Norton King’s Daughters Hospital in Madison, then transferred to a second facility for further evaluation. After his release he was booked into the Jefferson County Jail. He now faces a charge of attempted murder; additional charges are possible, officials say.
Here’s what’s dawned in onlookers and colleagues: This incident began as a crash but turned into something that appears deliberate and violent. Witnesses say what looked like a collision took on second purpose when Webster allegedly chose to strike again. Investigators emphasized the second impact was intentional.
The setting: U.S. 421 near Michigan Road runs just south of Ripley County by the Ohio River. Law enforcement from Versailles Post of ISP teamed up with Ripley and Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies to investigate the scene. The timing: around midday Wednesday. No word yet on what sparked Webster’s actions or any prior connection between him and the other driver.
As of Friday, Webster awaits his initial court appearance in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Prosecutors reviewed the case and filed the charge of attempted murder; they left open the option of further charges once all evidence is analyzed.
This story raises many questions: what led to Webster’s aggressive follow‑up strike? What sparked the post‑crash encounter? And how badly is the injured trooper, who remains released but recovering? Local residents are shaken by the idea that a routine crash could explode into something so violent. As investigators piece together phone records, dash‑cam or body‑cam footage and interviews, the community watches closely.