Man dies at scene of one-car accident

A Lawrenceburg man died last Tuesday night after the vehicle he was driving went off the road and into a ditch on Highway 44 in front of Capital Medical Group.

Larry Garlen, 52, of 230 N. Main St., was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Anderson County Deputy Coroner David Walden.

It remained unclear Monday if Garlen was killed in the accident or if he suffered a heart-related incident while driving east on Highway 44.

An autopsy revealed that Garlen suffered from severe coronary disease, Walden said.

“He did have considerable heart scarring and had complained of severe chest pains for several months,” Walden said. “It looked like he had had several heart attacks.”

Walden said Garlen visited a doctor the day of his death, but did so to treat his insomnia. Walden said Garlen had not been treated for his heart problems.

The accident occurred about 7:30 p.m.

Witnesses said Garlen was traveling east on Highway 44 when his vehicle crossed into the center turning lane and then into the west bound lane.

“It was coming down the hill and picking up speed,” Walden said. “It hit the curb in front of Capital Medical, jumped the curb and went airborne and went into the creek.”

Walden said Garlen sustained some blunt-force trauma and suffered internal injuries. He said witnesses who saw the accident rushed to his aid and banged on his vehicle’s windows, but Garlen did not respond.

Walden said his office is awaiting toxicology reports and the results of microscopic work on Garlen’s heart tissue. He said there was no evidence of alcohol or other substances playing a role in the accident.

The Lawrenceburg Police Department and Anderson County EMS responded to the scene.

Garlen was a self-employed contractor who was born in Detroit. He was a member of Midway Church of the Nazarene who enjoyed camping, building things with his hands and spending time with his family, according to obituary information provided by Ritchie and Peach Funeral Home in Lawrenceburg.

Funeral services were conducted last Friday at Ritchie and Peach Funeral Home, followed by burial in Hebron Cemetery in Anderson County.

E-mail Ben Carlson at bcarlson@theandersonnews.com.