Area Accident Reports
Kosciusko
Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following accidents:
9:17 a.m. Friday, July 12, East CR 700S, west of South CR 300E, Claypool. Driver: Natalie I. Francis, 36, North Hickory Street, Claypool. Francis was traveling east on CR 700S when a deer entered the roadway. This caused Francis’ vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a tree. Damage up to $5,000.
10:44 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, EMS W23 Lane, south of East Backwater Road, North Webster. Driver: Telia K. Degelorm, 34, North CR 500E, Kendallville. Degelorm was leaving a residence when a man jumped onto the back of her car. As Degelorm accelerated her vehicle to get away from the man, her vehicle spun out and struck a cement retaining wall. The man, identified as Ryan M. Austin, 41, North Webster, sustained some minor abrasions to his right ankle and foot area and refused treatment at the scene. Damage up to $2,500.
6:21 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, West US 30, east of North Fox Farm Road, Warsaw. Drivers: Amanda Hench, 32, Old Colony Road, Warsaw; and Christopher J. Graber, 58, North Deer Run, Warsaw. Graber was traveling on US 30 when he slowed his vehicle in the lefthand lane to assist a motorist who was stopped on the side of the road when Hench’s vehicle rear-ended him. Hench was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A passenger in Hench’s vehicle, Christine A. Hench, 54, Warsaw, was transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne was multiple broken bones and broken ribs. Martha P. Paxton, 75, Warsaw, a passenger in Hench’s vehicle, was also transported for left leg and facial injuries. Two children in Hench’s vehicle, Rebecca Rudicel, 7, Warsaw; and Joel Rudicel, 4, were taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. Damage up to $25,000.
1:46 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, East CR 900N, east of North CR 100E, Milford. Drivers: Andrew J. Sattelmaier, 24, Dutch Settlement Road, Marcellus, Mich.; and Drew A. Beer, 24, North CR 425W, Milford. Sattelmaier was driving a commercial vehicle and was attempting to pull into a field when he crossed the center line into the westbound lane of traffic to navigate his turn. As he did so, Beer’s vehicle struck the trailer of Sattelmaier’s vehicle. Damage up to $10,000.
8:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, North SR 13, north of East CR 500N, North Webster. Drivers: Alvaro Ortiz, 28, Front Street, Fort Wayne; and Gregory W. Babb, 46, Corby Court, Westfield. Ortiz’s vehicle was traveling northbound on SR 13 when he turned left in front of Babb’s vehicle. Damage up to $25,000.
8:52 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, North SR 13, south of North CR 650E, Syracuse. Drivers: D.S. Beam, 36, Collinwood Avenue, Columbia City; and Morgan R. Bobeck, 26, County Road 44, Millersburg. Bobeck’s vehicle was stopped in traffic facing north on SR 13 when Beam’s vehicle rear-ended hers. Beam had a minor nose bleed but refused EMS at the scene. Damage up to $25,000.
4:04 p.m. Monday, July 8, East SR 14, near South SR 13, Claypool. Driver: Joy L. Stiffler, 73, West River Road 92, North Manchester. Stiffler was traveling east on SR 14 when a vehicle rear-ended her. The driver who rear-ended her left the scene northbound. Damage up to $2,500.
10:13 a.m. Monday, July 8, East CR 750N, east of North CR 300E, Warsaw. Driver: Joseph A. Sunday, 17, EMS T13 Lane, Leesburg. Sunday was traveling north on CR 300E when his vehicle went into a ditch, striking an REMC utility pole and spinning around in the yard of 3094 E. CR 750N, causing minimal grass damage. Damage up to $10,000.
4:13 a.m. Monday, July 8, East Old Road 30, east of South SR 13, Pierceton. Driver: Paige A. Bontrager, 22, Orchard Drive, Warsaw. Bontrager was traveling west on Old Road 30 when a deer hit the side of her vehicle. Damage up to $2,500.
4:54 p.m. Sunday, July 7, North SR 15, near West CR 1350N, Milford. Drivers: Joyce M. Miller, 82, Beechwood Drive, Bremen; and Diane Zamora, 51, North 1st Street, Goshen. Miller was traveling west on CR 1350N when she pulled into the path of Zamora’s vehicle. As a result of the accident, Miller broke her left leg. Zamora sustained bruising to her chest and complained of general body pain. A passenger in Zamora’s vehicle, Jorge Zamora, 12, complained of body pain. Both Zamoras refused medical attention at the scene. Damage up to $25,000.
7:33 a.m. Saturday, July 6, East US 30, east of Arnolt Drive, Pierceton. Driver: Bryce M. Woenker, 23, Monterey Drive, Fort Wayne. Woenker was traveling east on US 30 when his vehicle left the south side of the roadway. His vehicle then came back onto the roadway and continued eastbound until his vehicle’s right rear tire blew. Damage up to $25,000.Area