At approximately 11:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15, emergency personnel were called to a reported motorcycle accident in Leesburg.

According to an accident report filed by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, officers were dispatched to the area in reference to a personal injury accident involving a single motorcycle and a subject lying in the roadway. Upon arrival, officers noted the vehicle was actually an orange and black ZNEN mo-ped which was lying in the ditch facing southwest.

The rider of the mo-ped, later identified as James S. Wharton, 44, of Warsaw, was found a short distance from the vehicle. Officers noted it was difficult at that time to see what injuries Wharton had sustained and that he was unable to communicate with paramedics. Medics worked on Wharton at the scene and Lutheran Air Ambulance was called to transport him to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

Officers noted a smell of alcohol coming from Wharton while at the scene of the accident and that he had been seen earlier by an officer pulling into a parking spot at The Keg in Leesburg. Due to the fact that Wharton was unable to verbally respond to questions, an affidavit of probable cause was completed to apply for a search warrant for a sample of Wharton’s blood, the results of which are pending at this time.

A complete list of Wharton’s injuries are still unknown, however, officers said he did suffer from road rash to his arms and head as well as an injury to his right arm.