Area Accident Reports
Kosciusko County
Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following accidents:
- 4:37 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, North SR 19, west of North CR 900W, Nappanee. Driver: Michael D. Cook, 53, Brooks Drive, Nappanee. Cook was traveling westbound on SR 19 in the area of North CR 900W, Nappanee, when his vehicle hit a mini pony. Damage: Up to $1,000.
- 8:32 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 7940 E. 300N, Pierceton. Driver: Thomas J. Dodge, 63, Court Street, Kalkaska, Mich. Dodge was traveling westbound on a dirt roadway inside Trojan Raceway. A pedestrian was standing next to the driver’s side of a vehicle that was parked in the dirt roadway. Dodge said he was going around the parked vehicle on the south side of it through the grass. While traveling around the vehicle, he hit the pedestrian, then she rolled onto the hood of his vehicle. In an attempt to stop his vehicle, he lost control of his prosthetic legs, so his vehicle continued before a short time before he was able to stop. Before his vehicle stopped, the pedestrian fell off the side of his vehicle and the vehicle hit a parked golf cart. The pedestrian had abrasions on her hip, leg, elbow and feet. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 8:12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, West CR 400N, north of North CR 150W, Warsaw. Driver: Shanda L. Sanchez, 57, Walnut Creek Boulevard, Warsaw. Sanchez was traveling northbound on CR 150W north of CR 400N, Warsaw. A deer entered her lane of travel. She swerved to avoid the deer and her vehicle left the roadway and partially traveled down a steep ditch before stopping. Sanchez complained of thumb pain. Damage: Up to $25,000.
- 6:18 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, West CR 200S, east of South CR 400W, Warsaw. Driver: Jon M. Heckman, 40, South CR 400W, Warsaw. Heckman was traveling eastbound on CR 200S east of CR 400W, Warsaw. A deer entered his lane of travel. Heckman said he swerved to avoid the deer and his vehicle hit a guard rail. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 10:51 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, North CR 500E, east of East CR 1000N, Syracuse. Drivers: Robert S. Craft, 44, North CR 375W, Albion, and Lee T. Andrews, 79, Cove Harbour Drive, Holland, Ohio. Craft was traveling eastbound on East CR 1000N at the intersection of North CR 500E, Syracuse. Andrews’ vehicle was stopped at the stop sign on North CR 500E. Andrews’ vehicle began to enter the intersection. Craft’s vehicle disregarded the stop sign and hit Andrews’ vehicle. Craft admitted to not stopping at the stop sign. Craft had arm and facial injuries and was flown by helicopter to a hospital. A passenger in his vehicle was thrown from the vehicle and had arm and facial injuries. She was also flown by helicopter to a hospital. Damage: Up to $50,000.
- 8:59 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, South Brallier Road, south of East Old Road 30, Pierceton. Driver: Rex A. Rife, 70, South Brallier Road, Pierceton. Rife was traveling northbound on Brallier Road, Pierceton. He said a dog ran into the roadway. Rife swerved to avoid the dog and tipped his motorcycle over. Rife had cuts on his arm, but refused EMS. Damage: Up to $1,000.
- 7:42 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, North CR 650E, north of East CR 300N, Warsaw. Driver: Lucas P. Vanderhart, 25, Warsaw. Vanderhart was traveling northbound on North CR 650E near the intersection of East CR 300N, Warsaw, when his vehicle hit a deer. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 3:04 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, North CR 650E, south of East CR 200N, Warsaw. Driver: Cole A. Cmar, 23, West Westgate Avenue, Columbia City. Cmar’s vehicle was traveling southbound in the area of North CR 650E and East CR 200N, Warsaw. Cmar said he passed out at the wheel while driving. His vehicle went off the roadway and hit a utility pole. His vehicle went off the other side of the roadway and went through a cornfield and back across the roadway and into a bean field. Cmar was taken to the hospital where he was treated for eye and wrist injuries. Charges were long formed for operating while intoxicated. Damage: Up to $25,000.
- 12:10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, East CR 200N, east of North CR 650E, Pierceton. Driver: Michael T. McCandless, 51, Van Buren Street, Defiance, Ohio. McCandless said he was traveling eastbound on East CR 200N just east of North CR 650E, Pierceton, when his vehicle hit a deer. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 11:07 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, South CR 800W, north of West SR 25S, Etna Green. Driver: Timothy L. Banghart, 61, South SR 19, Mentone. Banghart was traveling southbound on South CR 800W just north of West SR 25S, Etna Green, when his vehicle hit a deer. Damage: Up to $2,500.
North Webster
Officers with the North Webster Police Department investigated the following accidents:
- 3:16 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 101 EMS B7 Lane, Leesburg. Driver: Rebekha S. Mikel, 26, EMS B6A Lane, Leesburg. Mikel said she was backing up a van to take to NAPA. The vehicle hit a tree. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 11:02 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, North SR 13 and West Washington Street, North Webster. Drivers: Robert G. Wacker, 54, North Main Street, Auburn; and Colt M. Dolsen, 16, EMS W26 Lane, North Webster. Wacker said he was at the intersection of Washington Street and SR 13, North Webster, driving west. He said he caught the stoplight at a glance and that there was a lot of glare. He said he was halfway through the intersection when he saw Dolsen’s vehicle traveling south. Their vehicles collided. Wacker complained of neck pain. Damage: Up to $25,000.
- 4:54 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, North SR 13, north of East CR 500N, North Webster. Drivers: Heather N. Coy, 31, North CR 700E, Leesburg; and Jesse J. Hendrickson, 55, East CR 700S, Warsaw. Coy said she was traveling southbound on SR 13 and the traffic began backing up at the stoplight. She said she tried to stop but hit Hendrickson’s vehicle. Damage: Up to $5,000.
Warsaw
Officers with the Warsaw Police Department investigated the following accidents:
- 11:08 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, North Parker Street and East Center Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Treesa R. Metz, 26, Yvonna Street, Leesburg; and Shane W. Ebright, 42, EMS B40A Lane, Leesburg. Metz said she was traveling southbound on Parker Street, stopped at the intersection of Parker Street and East Center Street, Warsaw. She said the traffic light was red for southbound traffic. She said she was looking at medical paperwork while stopped at the light and noticed that vehicles next to her in the left turn lane were beginning to move forward. She thought that the traffic light was green and began to pull forward. Her vehicle hit the trailer hitch on Ebright’s vehicle. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 6:25 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, SR 15 and US 30 D, Warsaw. Drivers: David L. Hofer, 54, West CR 1400N, North Manchester; and Howard L. Schrock, 32, South CR 1200W, Goshen. Hofer said he was traveling northbound on SR 15. He was stopped at a yellow arrow, waiting for southbound traffic to clear so he could turn onto the on ramp for US 30 West. He saw Schrock’s vehicle traveling southbound and thought he was going to turn onto the same on ramp. Hofer turned across Schrock’s lane of travel and Schrock’s vehicle hit Hofer’s, causing Hofer’s vehicle to hit a pole. Damage: Up to $100,000.
- 1:36 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, SR 15, north of West CR 300N, Warsaw. Drivers: Conner S. Cunningham, 22, Clinic Street, Warsaw; and Tamara J. Boggs, 58, South Country Club Road, Warsaw. Cunningham said he was traveling southbound on SR 15 in the straight lane. He said he checked his side mirrors and when he looked back forward he saw that Boggs’ vehicle had slowed. Cunningham tried to stop but was unable to and his vehicle hit Boggs’. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 9:57 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, East CR 200N, east of North Boeing Road, Warsaw. Driver: Curtis J. Ousley, 31, Oak Brook Place, Warsaw. Ousley said he was traveling eastbound on East CR 200N just past the intersection of Biomet Drive, Warsaw. He was traveling around a right hand curve on East CR 200N, staying near the center line of the roadway. When he straightened the wheel, he lost control of the vehicle in patch of gravel and went off the right side of the roadway. He complained of left side pain due to road rash. He was checked out by medics. His passenger sustained knee, wrist and ankle injuries. She was checked out by medics and transported to the hospital. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 5:28 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, North Parker Street, south of East Main Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Meredith G. Michalski, 28, Saint Marys Drive, Warsaw; and Tyler A. Richardson, 30, West CR 100N, Warsaw. Michalski said she was traveling northbound on North Parker Street near the intersection of East Main Street, Warsaw. She said Richardson’s vehicle was stopped in traffic in front of her, preparing to turn left. She said she didn’t see his vehicle stopped in time and was unable to avoid a collision. Her vehicle hit his. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 1:29 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, US 30 and North Parker Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Julie A. Walters, 79, Three Rivers North, Fort Wayne; and Cathrine M. Jarvis, 52, North Grant Street, Warsaw. Walters said she was traveling eastbound on US 30, Warsaw. She said she thought her light was yellow when she entered the intersection, but looked at the light just before the accident and saw that it was red. She tried to accelerate to avoid hitting Jarvis’ vehicle, but was unable to avoid the accident. Walters complained of pain in her wrist and was checked out by a medic. Jarvis complained of chest and side pain and a passenger in her vehicle complained of chest pain. Damage: Up to $50,000.
Winona Lake
Officers with the Winona Lake Police Department investigated the following accidents:
- 10:13 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, Pierceton Road and South Packerton Road, Winona Lake. Drivers: Terry M. Cole, 80, East Blossom Lane, Warsaw; and Katherine R. Jacobson, 31, Mineral Springs Avenue, Winona Lake. Cole was traveling westbound on Pierceton Road preparing to turn south onto Packerton Road, Winona Lake. His vehicle turned in front of Jacobson’s, causing a crash. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 9:55 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, CR 225S and Packerton Road, Winona Lake. Drivers: Kayleigh R. Dove, 18, East Levi Lee Road, Warsaw; and Samuel D. Sharik, 21, Lancer Way, Winona Lake. Dove was traveling westbound on CR 225S and came to the intersection of Packerton Road, Winona Lake. She thought it was a four-way stop. After stopping, she proceeded into the intersection and hit Sharik’s vehicle with hers. After hitting his vehicle, Dove realized Sharik didn’t have a stop sign. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 5:59 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, Kings Highway and Second Street, Winona Lake. Driver: Kalynn Cumberland, 44, Kelly Street, Winona Lake. Cumberland said she was driving in the area of Kings Highway and Second Street, Winona Lake, when a dog ran in front of her vehicle. She tried to avoid hitting the dog, but was unable to. The dog sustained an injury to its leg. The owner transported the dog for veterinary care. Damage: Up to $2,500.
Fulton County
Officers with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following accidents:
- 8:36 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, East Ninth Street, Rochester. Driver: John Lease, Peru. Lease was driving an ATV in the woods and hit a log, causing the ATV to flip.
- 3:18 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, SR 25 and CR 775N, Rochester. Driver: Aaron Maple, Rochester. Hit deer.