Area Accident Reports
Kosciusko County
Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following accidents:
- 7:50 a.m. Friday, April 23, South County Farm Road north of West CR 550S, Claypool. Driver: John W. Stafford, 53, West CR 800S, Claypool. Stafford was northbound on County Farm Road in the area of CR 550S, Claypool, when a deer hit his vehicle. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 6:41 p.m. Thursday, April 22, North CR 400E south of East CR 100N, Warsaw. Driver: Austin L. Myers, 17, Turkey Creek Drive, Milford. Myers was traveling northbound on North CR 400E, Warsaw, when his vehicle’s right tires caught the edge of the roadway, which caused him to start to fishtail. His vehicle did a complete 360-degree turn and struck the raised embankment on the east side of the roadway, causing his vehicle to roll over and end up in a field. He had minor injuries on his left arm and refused any further medical treatment on scene. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 4:42 a.m. Thursday, April 22, South SR 13 north of South CR 675E, Pierceton. Driver: Kimberly M. Banter, 53, South SR 13, Claypool. Banter was traveling northbound on SR 13 when a deer collided with her vehicle. Damage: Up to $10,000.
Warsaw
Officers with the Warsaw Police Department investigated the following accidents:
- 10:28 p.m. Thursday, April 22, East Winona Avenue and East Smith Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Gavin P. Brown, 17, South Wausau Street, Warsaw, and Anthony A. Irvine, 29, Center Street, Tippecanoe. Brown was traveling westbound on East Winona Avenue, Warsaw. He was approaching the intersection of East Winona Avenue/East Smith Street behind Irvine’s vehicle. He didn’t see the brake lights of Irvine’s vehicle. His vehicle hit Irvine’s. Brown had a bloody nose. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 5:17 p.m. Thursday, April 22, 1007 N. Warren St., Warsaw. Driver: Evelio M. Tlahuel, 54, Flamingo Drive, Warsaw. Tlahuel was backing up his vehicle from the parking lot of 1007 Warren St., Warsaw, when he hit a parked vehicle. After awhile, he left the scene of the accident. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 5:07 p.m. Thursday, April 22, SR 15 and East Canal Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Steven J. Keene, 55, West CR 400S, Warsaw, and Nathaniel D. Prater, 30, Clinic Court, Warsaw. Keene was traveling southbound on SR 15 in the left lane. He observed Prater’s vehicle in front of his with the turn signal on. He said he was going to switch lanes to the right lane; however, he saw a vehicle in his blind spot, so he couldn’t switch lanes. When he looked back up, Prater’s vehicle had come to a stop. He couldn’t stop in time, and his vehicle hit Prater’s. Damage: Up to $25,000.
- 5:06 p.m. Thursday, April 22, North SR 15 and East Center Street, Warsaw. Driver: Roger D. Hilgen, 56, North Long Avenue, Chicago, Ill. The trailer that Hilgen’s vehicle was pulling hit a pedestrian crosswalk pole, tearing it off the concrete base and exposing the electrical wires. Damage: Up to $25,000.
- 4:39 p.m. Thursday, April 22, Ranch Road and Henderson Drive, Warsaw. Driver: Mark L. Brumblow, 52, North First Street, Warsaw. Brumblow was traveling southbound on Ranch Road, Warsaw. As he was driving, the tie rod in his vehicle broke, and he was unable to steer the vehicle. His vehicle hit a utility pole as a result. Brumblow had some redness to his neck from wearing his seat belt and a minor cut on his left pinky finger. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 3:38 p.m. Thursday, April 22, 2575 E. Center St., Warsaw. Driver: Harlan M. Merchant, 71, South Southwood Drive, Warsaw. Merchant said he was in the parking lot of 2575 E. Center St., Warsaw, turning his school bus around 180 degrees, in a counter-clockwise manner, to exit the parking lot. As he was making the turn, the side of the bus hit a parked vehicle. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 9:58 a.m. Thursday, April 22, North CR 100E north of East CR 200N, Warsaw. Drivers: Cara C. Brandenburg, 25, Lydia Drive, Warsaw, and Courtney N. Larson, 21, EMS B25 Lane, Pierceton. Brandenburg was traveling southbound on North CR 100E, Warsaw, behind Larson’s vehicle. She looked down for a moment, and when she looked up, Larson had stopped her vehicle in front of her. Her vehicle hit Larson’s. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 8:24 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, East US 30 and East Center Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Nicho A. Pena, 18, Westwood Lane, Rochester, and Kenneth R. Cooke, 53, West Broadway Street, Etna Green. Pena said he was stopped in the left hand turn lane in the westbound lanes of East US 30 preparing to make a left hand turn onto East Center Street, Warsaw. He said he saw the traffic light turn green for traffic to turn left onto East Center Street, so he began accelerating forward. He said he accelerated too much and struck Cooke’s vehicle, which was stopped in traffic in front of him, with his. Damage: Up to $5,000.
Winona Lake
Officers with the Winona Lake Police Department investigated the following accident:
- 3:03 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, Park Avenue south of Auditorium Boulevard, Winona Lake. Drivers: Ethan J. Hancock, 21, West Plymouth Street, Bremen, and Brent B. Wildman, 68, Park Avenue, Winona Lake. Wildman said he was looking into the parking lot he was getting ready to turn into. When he began to turn, Hancock’s vehicle passed him and he struck it with his vehicle as it passed. Hancock said he was passing Wildman’s vehicle and didn’t realize he was turning. Hancock said he didn’t see a turn signal. Damage: Up to $5,000.