Single-vehicle fatality in the area of Armstrong Road, east of CR 200E, Leesburg. (Photos provided)

By 1ST SGT. CHAD HILL
Public Information Officer, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department

LEESBURG — Kosciusko County officials are currently investigating a fiery single-vehicle traffic fatality that occurred early this morning east of Leesburg.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies and emergency personnel responded today at 4:09 a.m. to the area of Armstrong Road, east of CR 200E, in regards to a 911 report of an accident where the vehicle was purportedly on fire. Responders arrived and found a single-vehicle SUV that was fully engulfed in flames.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies stated that after the Leesburg/Plain Township Fire Department extinguished the fire, it was determined that there was a driver deceased inside of the silver, 2004 Chevy Suburban. The Kosciusko County Coroner’s office was summoned to the scene and subsequently transported the driver to the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center, Fort Wayne, for formal identification.

Kosciusko County FACT team members stated that a preliminarily investigation into the crash has determined that the fatality vehicle had been travelling eastbound on Armstrong road, when for an unknown reason, left the south side of the roadway. The vehicle then struck a tree head-on and caught fire.

Officers stated that the crash is still currently under investigation. The Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office is not releasing the identity of the driver until full forensic identification can be completed.

The Kosciusko County FACT team and Coroner’s Office were assisted at the scene by members of the Leesburg/Plain Township Fire Department and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.