Area Accident Reports
Kosciusko County
Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following accidents:
- 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, South First Street, north of West Walnut Street, Pierceton. Driver: Rodney L. Shepherd, 41, East Ryerson Road, Pierceton. Shepherd was traveling south on First Street when his vehicle went to the right side of the roadway, hitting a parked, unoccupied vehicle. No injuries were reported in the accident. Damage up to $10,000.
- 6:40 a.m. Tuesday, May 4, South SR 25, south of West Palestine 1st Street, Warsaw. Driver: Rodney E. Hudson, 53, North CR 700E, Rochester. Hudson was traveling north on South SR 25 when a deer entered the roadway. Damage up to $10,000.
- 10:43 a.m. Monday, May 3, North SR 15, south of West CR 1000N, Warsaw. Drivers: Ray B. Frost, 77, East North Street, North Webster; Ciera N. England, 26, East Van Buren Street, Leesburg; and Mary L. Velazquez, 51, Wooster Road 64, Winona Lake. England said she was traveling south on SR 15 and that Frost passed a vehicle while traveling north. Frost hit England’s vehicle and continued north, hitting Velazquez’s vehicle. England complained of head pain and left arm cuts and was taken to a local hospital. Frost and Velazquez were both pronounced dead at the scene by the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office. Damage up to $100,000.
- 8:08 a.m. Monday, May 3, South County Farm Road, south of West CR 300S, Warsaw. Driver: Damon L. McElvene, 24, North Layman Avenue, Indianapolis. McElvene was traveling north on County Farm Road when a vehicle in front of him braked. This resulted in McElvene slamming on his brakes and losing control of his vehicle. McElvene’s vehicle left the roadway and hit a county highway sign and utility pole. Damage up to $10,000.
Warsaw
Officers with the Warsaw Police Department investigated the following accidents:
- 5:35 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, US 30, near Meijer Drive, Warsaw. Drivers: Billy J. Gage, 38, West North Street, Bourbon; and Fortee Williams, 23, South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, Ill. Williams was traveling west on US 30 and stopped for a red light at an intersection when she was rear-ended by Gage’s vehicle. Williams was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for head pain. A witness at the scene saw Gage leave his vehicle and start running across the southbound lanes of US 30 and into a wooded area. Damage up to $25,000.
- 3:14 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, 590 W. CR 300N, Warsaw. Drivers: Judith A. Griffis, 62, East SR 114, Akron; and Natalya L. Moore, 18, East CR 400N, Warsaw. Griffis was backing her vehicle for an eastbound vehicle when she backed into Moore’s vehicle. Damage up to $2,500.
- 7:22 p.m. Monday, May 3, Lake City Highway and East CR 200N, Warsaw. Drivers: Zaquwon Z. Appleton, 22, West Fond Du Lac Avenue, Milwaukee, Wis.; David M. Vandyke, 40, East CR 200N, Warsaw; and Rogelio Gonzalez, 37, East CR 200N, Warsaw. Appleton was traveling west on US 30. He saw his light was red and applied his brakes, but his vehicle wasn’t slowing fast enough to stop prior to the intersection. He sounded his horn and entered the intersection, with his vehicle hitting Vandyke’s and Gonzalez’s vehicles. Appleton complained of a headache and had a scratch on his right leg, but refused medical attention. Damage up to $25,000.
- 6:58 p.m. Monday, May 3, East Center Street and Roosevelt Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Cherylyn A. Trier, 68, East Pierceton Road, Warsaw; and Zachary D. Wood, 17, South Blue Spruce Court, Warsaw. Trier was traveling east on East Center Street. While she was driving, she decided to pull into the Penguin Point parking lot on the north side of the roadway. She said when she got into the turn lane to turn into Penguin Point, she failed to see Wood’s vehicle traveling next to her in the turn lane. Her vehicle crashed into the side of his. Damage up to $2,500.
- 4:16 a.m. Monday, May 3, North Parker Street and East Clark Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Christopher A. Jayne, 29, East Main Street, Silver Lake; and Cody M. Pope, 28, East Center Street, Warsaw. Pope said he was north on North Parker Street. He said a white Ford Freestar van with gray trim started to pass his vehicle on the left. The van swerved to the left and started to pass Pope’s vehicle in a no-passing zone. The van then swerved to the right and sideswiped his vehicle. That caused Pope’s vehicle to spin sideways and cross into the southbound traffic lane. His right rear tire made contact with the curb, causing it to break. The van fled the scene. It was later found that the driver of it, Jayne, has a suspended infraction. He took the van out without the owner’s permission. Jayne told the owner he was in an accident. The vehicle was not supposed to be out on the road due to there being no insurance on it. Charges are being sent to the prosecutor’s office for Jayne. Damage up to $5,000.