Sheriff’s deputy dies after being struck by car

A Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Deputy died Sunday from ongoing complications stemming from a Friday evening incident in which she was hit by a car.

Deputy Sara Jones, 28, was directing traffic Friday night on State Road 45 west of Bloomington while a service company was removing a car out from a ditch on the side road, said Indiana State Police Sgt. Curt Durnil.

Jones was struck by a 16-year-old Bloomington girl driving a 1998 Jeep. Jones was not wearing a reflective vest when she was directing traffic on the road, but her vehicle’s emergency lights were on, Durnil said.

Jones was taken to the Bloomington Hospital and later transported to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, according to an Indiana State Police press release.

The Bloomington girl has not been arrested, Durnil said, and the prosecutor’s office will review the case.

Jones had been working as a Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Deputy for less than a year, Durnil said.

“It’s tragic because she was just getting started,” Durnil said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Jones.”

Before joining the sheriff’s department Jones attended a military institute and served in the Air Force.