By 1^st Sgt. Chad Hill, Public Information Office

SYRACUSE —Kosciusko County officials are currently investigating a Christmas day head-on crash in Syracuse that has injured three people, and claimed the lives of two.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Deputies, along with Syracuse police, fire and E.M.S., responded Sunday evening at approximately 6:13 p.m. to the intersection of County Road 1200 North and Syracuse/Webster Road after receiving a 9-1-1 call of a two-vehicle crash.  Officers and emergency personnel arrived and located two vehicles that had struck virtually head-on.

A preliminary determination into the cause of the crash has determined that the 2015 Chrysler driven by Mickgomery W. Hisey, 26, Syracuse, had purportedly been attempting to “drag race” in the wrong lane of traffic prior to the collision.  K.C.S.D. Deputies stated that according to witness statements, Hisey had begun passing another vehicle westbound on a hillcrest just prior to the intersection.  Hisey’s vehicle entered into the intersection, impacting the 2016 Pontiac that was being driven by Stephen T. Conrad, 67, Syracuse.  Conrad was extricated from his vehicle and transported to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in serious condition.  Conrad’s passengers, his son Stephen T. Conrad II, 32, Syracuse, and his wife, Kimberly R. Conrad, 61, Syracuse, were pronounced dead at the scene by Kosciusko County Coroner Tony Ciriello.

Hisey was also extricated from his vehicle, along with his passenger, Brody Jordan, 23, Syracuse, by the Syracuse/Turkey Creek Fire Territory.  Hisey was taken to Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, in critical condition.  Jordan was taken to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, in serious condition.  The North Webster/Tippecanoe Township E.M.S. also assisted at the scene.

Kosciusko County Fatal Team reconstruction members stated that the crash is still under investigation at this time.