GREEN TOWNSHIP — A pair of twin sisters were injured in a single-vehicle accident in southern Madison County late Tuesday night.

Madison County Sheriff Ron Richardson said 22-year-old twins Sarah and Katie Carpenter were traveling south on County Road 1000 West near County Road 650 South around 11 p.m. when the 2007 Hyundai Tucson they were traveling in struck a guard rail.

“They struck the metal guard rail on the east side of the road, crossed the center line and struck a concrete bridge railing,” Richardson said. “The car spun around and ended up facing back north.”

Sarah Carpenter, the driver, was fully alert at the scene and was taken to Community Hospital North in Indianapolis, where she was treated for a broken right arm and a broken right ankle, then released.

Katie Carpenter, seated in the front passenger seat, was trapped and had to be freed from the car by emergency response workers, who say she slipped in and out of consciousness. She was airlifted by PHI helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where it was determined she suffered a skull fracture and an orbital fracture to the right side of the head. She remains hospitalized.

“They actually live in SummerLake (housing addition),” Richardson said. “They left to run an errand and were on their way back when the driver lost control and hit the guard rail and bridge railing. Alcohol may have been involved; we want to perform a blood test.”

Richardson said weather might also be a factor. He described “weather-related material” along the side of the road near the scene, but said the roadway itself was generally clear.