Accident claims life of deputy

Local News

December 13, 2009

A one-vehicle crash has claimed the life of a Jefferson County deputy sheriff. On Friday, Dec. 11, at about 10:37 p.m. a Jefferson County dispatcher received a 911 call reporting a sheriff’s vehicle had been involved in a crash on Dugan Hollow Road near Madison, reported Indiana State Police Sgt. Noel Houze.

“The preliminary investigation revealed three Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance involving weapons on Dugan Hollow Road.” Two had just arrived at the scene and the third, Roy B. “Bruce” Sutton Jr., 35, Hanover, was nearby when he met a vehicle traveling westbound on the very hilly and winding road. His vehicle ran off the right side of the road and went down a very steep embankment and was airborne when the driver’s side of the vehicle struck a tree.

“Despite the fact the deputy was wearing his seat belt, he suffered fatal head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene by Alice Jackson, Jefferson County coroner,” Houze said.

Sutton was married and had no children, said Jefferson County Sheriff Bill Andrews. He had been a road deputy for about one and a half years, graduating from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy last May.

This crash is still under investigation. It is being investigated by ISP Sgt. Dan Goris. He is being assisted by other members of the Indiana State Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Township Fire Department, Madison Rescue Six and Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.