With the Jeep Compass secured from slipping further into a pond, Milford Firefighters remove the driver, Don Troyer, from the vehicle, while his wife Helen waits inside the vehicle.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — A Jeep Compass became partially submerged in a pond following a two-vehicle crash at CR 1300N and CR 300E, east of Milford. The accident occurred at 11:52 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The crash involved a Ford Explorer and the Jeep Compass. Drivers of both vehicles sustained apparent minor injuries and a passenger in the Compass suffered a bump to the head and complained of pain.

Don Troyer, 83, North Creek Bend Drive, Milford, and his wife, Helen, 78, were westbound in their 2019 Jeep Compass, when their vehicle was struck by a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Debra Cox, 53, Syracuse. Cox was traveling north on CR 300E and drove into the path of the Troyer vehicle.

The impact tore the metal off the Compass’ back passenger door on the driver’s side. The Jeep reportedly spun around several times, hitting a telephone junction box before it went into the pond on the northwest side of the intersection.

Troyer and his wife were trapped in the vehicle, with water entering the vehicle, until Milford Firefighters arrived to extricate the couple. Cox was able to exit the vehicle on her own and walk to the ambulance.

Lutheran EMS transported Troyer to Goshen Hospital with his wife being transported by private vehicle. Cox was transported to Goshen Hospital by Turkey Creek Fire/Paramedics.

Milford Fire Department, Syracuse Police, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police responded along with Lutheran EMS and Turkey Creek Fire Territory.