Area Accident Reports
Kosciusko County
Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following accidents:
- 3:33 a.m. Monday, Nov. 8, North CR 300E, south of EMS T29 Lane, Leesburg. Driver: Desiree N. Snowden, 26, West CR 225S, Kimmell. Snowden was traveling northbound on North CR 300E at the intersection of EMS T29 Lane, Leesburg. She swerved to miss a deer and her vehicle hit a pole. She complained of rib pain and received treatment from medics on scene. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 11:09 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, West US 30, west of North CR 350W, Warsaw. Driver: Shalonda M. Brown, 40, South 61st Street, Milwaukee, Wis. Brown was traveling westbound on West US 30 at the intersection of North CR 350W, Warsaw, when a deer collided with her vehicle. Brown and a passenger in her vehicle complained of pain in their shoulders/upper arms. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 9:57 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, South SR 19, north of West CR 500S, Mentone. Driver: Amy L. Raber, 19, North SR 19, Macy. Raber was traveling southbound on South SR 19, Mentone, when a deer collided with her vehicle. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 9:16 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, South SR 15, north of West CR 800S, Warsaw. Driver: Steven M. Patton, 49, West Myrtle Glen Road, Silver Lake. Patton was traveling southbound on south SR 15 when he came upon a deer laying in the roadway. It collided with his vehicle. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 7:05 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, North CR 100E and East CR 300N, Warsaw. Drivers: Linsey T. Ursino, 33, EMS C27C Lane, Warsaw; and Cody T. Miskulin, 29, East Huntington Street, North Webster. Ursino’s and Miskulin’s vehicles collided. Damage: Up to $50,000.
- 6:44 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, East US 30 and South CR 325E, Warsaw. Driver: Ryan C. Weber, 42, South US Highway 33, Kimmell. Weber was traveling eastbound on East US 30 near South CR 325E, Warsaw, when his vehicle hit a deer. Damage: Up to $25,000.
- 3:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, 306 S. Main St., Warsaw. Driver: Rona R. Lawson, 58, EMS B1 Lane, Leesburg. Lawson was leaving a parking lot. She was navigating the turn into the back alley of the lot and turned into the guy/support wires of a pole. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 8:49 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, West CR 1200S, east of South CR 100W, Silver Lake. Driver: Traceson J. Gearhart, 17, East CR 1200S, Claypool. Gearhart was traveling westbound on CR 1200S east of CR 100W, when his vehicle hit a deer. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 5:49 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, North SR 15, north of West Levi Lee Road, Warsaw. Driver: Ruby F. Bontrager, 36, North Perry Drive, Milford. Bontrager was traveling southbound on SR 15, north of Levi Lee Road, Warsaw, when her vehicle hit a deer. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 1:14 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, West CR 1300S, east of South CR 700W, Akron. Driver: Ian R. Becker, 18, West CR 1250S, Akron. Becker was traveling westbound on West CR 1300S, Akron, when a deer collided with his vehicle. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 12:57 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, West CR 100S west of South CR 400W, Warsaw. Driver: Timothy L. Banghart, 61, South SR 19, Mentone. Banghart was traveling westbound on West CR 100S, Warsaw, when a deer collided with his vehicle. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 6:01 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, North CR 150W and West CR 400N, Warsaw. Drivers: Peggy L. Criswell, 48, North CR 800W, Etna Green; and Devin J. Dawson, 20, Centerville Turnpike, Chesapeake, Va. Criswell said she stopped facing northbound at the intersection and looked left to check for oncoming traffic. She was preparing to turn west onto West CR 400N, while stopped on North CR 150W, Warsaw. As she looked to the west, the sun made it hard to see oncoming traffic. She said she didn’t see any oncoming traffic and proceeded to enter the intersection in front of Dawson’s vehicle. His vehicle hit Criswell’s. Damage: Up to $25,000.
- 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, West Old Road 30, east of West CR 100N, Warsaw. Driver: Christopher T. Whitley, 23, North Columbia Street, Warsaw. Whitley was traveling westbound on West Old Road 30 east of CR 100N, Warsaw, when his vehicle hit a deer. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 10:05 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, South CR 950W and West SR 25, Mentone. Drivers: Wesley A. Yarian, 40, North Johnson Street, Akron; and Harold T. Stambaugh, 67, South SR 19, Mentone. Yarian was stopped at the intersection of South CR 900W and West SR 25, Mentone. He said an eastbound semi was turning north onto South CR 900W. He started to back up to give the semi the space to turn. He didn’t see Stambaugh’s vehicle behind him as he was backing. His vehicle hit Stambaugh’s. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 9:10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, West Old Road 30, west of North CR 600W, Warsaw. Driver: Andrew D. Kline, 38, Bartol Drive, Warsaw. Kline was traveling eastbound on West Old Road 30 east of CR 600W, Warsaw, when his vehicle hit a deer. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 10:26 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, West US 30, west of North CR 650W, Warsaw. Driver: Margaret J. Andrew, 57, East Forest Lane, Palatine, Ill. Andrew was traveling eastbound on US 30, Warsaw, when a deer hit her vehicle. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 8:44 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, North CR 350W, south of West CR 200N, Warsaw. Driver: Britney N. Castillo, 24, North Penny Drive, Warsaw. Castillo was traveling northbound on North CR 350W, Warsaw, when a deer hit his vehicle. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 7:37 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5, North SR 13 and East CR 1000N, Syracuse. Drivers: Raudel D. Gutierrez, 59, Sue Avenue, Warsaw; and Sheila A. Gregory, 47, North SR 13, North Webster. Gutierrez said he was stopped on CR 1000N waiting to cross SR 13, Syracuse. He said he looked south and didn’t see any traffic. He said he never looked to the north and proceeded to cross SR 13 eastbound. He pulled out in front of Gregory’s vehicle, which hit his. Damage: Up to $10,000.
- 5:19 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, North CR 300E, north of EMS T29 Lane, Leesburg. Driver: Helen A. Braun, 52, South Olive Street, Wakarusa. Braun was traveling northbound on CR 300E, Leesburg, when a deer entered the roadway and hit Braun’s vehicle. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 8:43 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, North CR 200E and East CR 550 N, Leesburg. Driver: Charles L. Lamb, 73, East CR 600N, North Webster. Lamb was traveling eastbound on CR 550N approaching CR 200E, Leesburg. Lamb said he pressed both the brake and the gas pedal on the Warsaw Community Schools bus as he was entering the 90-degree turn at CR 200E. Lamb claimed that the pedal proximity caused him to press the gas pedal as he was attempting to brake prior to the curve. The bus left the east side of CR 200E and struck a tree before coming to rest facing the northwest on CR 200E. According to a witness, the bus did not appear to be slowing prior to entering the curve. The witness reported the bus was traveling at approximately 25-30 mph before entering the curve. Lutheran EMS evaluated Lamb and four passengers at the scene. Video evidence from bus cameras indicate the bus was left of center prior to the collision. Although the brake was applied (according to the video), the bus accelerated prior to leaving the roadway. Damage: Up to $50,000.
North Webster
Officers with the North Webster Police Department investigated the following accident:
- 3:48 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, McClellan Street south Smith Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Enrique M. Mata, 20, North Elm Street, Silver Lake; and Logan M. Pitts, 27, Warsaw. Both vehicles were traveling westbound on East Smith Street, Warsaw. The vehicles turned south onto McClellan Street. Mata’s vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and left the roadway to the west, running over a sign before reentering the roadway into Pitts’ vehicle’s path. Mata’s vehicle hit Pitts’. The vehicles continued south onto Country Club Road. Damage: Up to $10,000.
Warsaw
Officers with the Warsaw Police Department investigated the following accidents:
- 2:14 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, 700 W. 300N, Warsaw. Drivers: Melody A. Morris, 58, EMS B63 Lane, Warsaw; and Jason P. Davidson, 52, North Highway A1A, Hutchinson Island, Fla. Morris said she was backing up in the parking lot of 700 W. 300N, Warsaw. She didn’t see Davidson’s vehicle behind her and her vehicle hit his. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 10:56 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, South County Farm Road, Warsaw. Driver: Sarah E. Driver, 42, East Seventh Street, North Manchester. Driver was traveling southbound on County Farm Road, Warsaw. She said at the intersection of South County Farm Road and Warsaw Community Church, a bicyclist, Stephen R. Troyer, 33, Loon Court, Plymouth, turned west across her lane of travel. That caused her vehicle to hit him. A witness at the scene said Driver’s vehicle was traveling southbound and Troyer was traveling north. The witness said Troyer did not stop to allow the vehicle to pass before trying to turn west into the parking lot of WCC. The witness said Troyer did not give Driver enough time to react and stop. Police were unable to get a statement from Troyer. He had minor bleeding from his head and was transported to Lutheran Hospital. WPD took his bicycle for safe-keeping. Damage: Up to $5,000.
- 8:52 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, South County Farm Road south of Park Ridge Drive, Warsaw. Drivers: Matthew A. Zartman, 20, West CR 1300S, Silver Lake; and Breanna X. Stephens, 21, West Baker Street, Warsaw. Zartman’s and Stephens’ vehicles collided. Damage: Up to $2,500.
- 8:53 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, North Scott Street and East Center Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Manuel C. Cruz Jara, 59, South CR 325E, Pierceton; and Mitchell A. Newell, 68, West Business 30, Columbia City. Cruz Jara was traveling eastbound on Center Street at the intersection of Scott Street, Warsaw. He said he saw Newell’s vehicle, but when he tried to use his brakes, he was too close and his tires slid. That caused his vehicle to hit Newell’s. Damage: Up to $1,000.
- 3:20 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, South Morton Street and West Prairie Street, Warsaw. Drivers: Marleen L. Solis, 18, East North Winds Drive, Warsaw; and Aaron T. Shepherd, 44, EMS C24D Lane, Warsaw. Solis was driving northbound on Morton Street near the intersection of West Prairie Street, Warsaw. Solis said she stopped and believed West Prairie Street was clear, so she proceeded into the intersection. She said she didn’t see Shepherd’s vehicle, which hit hers. Solis said she had chest pain and her ears were ringing. She was checked out by Lutheran EMS. A passenger in Shepherd’s vehicle was also checked by Lutheran EMS due to having chest pain from her seat belt. Damage: Up to $50,000.
- 10:55 a.m. Friday, Nov. 5, 120 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw. Driver: Jeiner Bravo Vasquez, 21, Bolton Avenue, Columbus, Ga. Bravo Vasquez was backing up towards the east to exit a parking space. He didn’t see from his in-car reverse camera that there was a vehicle behind him and have enough time to stop before hitting a parked vehicle. Damage: Up to $5,000.
Winona Lake
Officers with the Winona Lake Police Department investigated the following accident:
- 3:27 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, South McKinley Street and East Winona Avenue, Winona Lake. Drivers: Brock L. Poe, 19, East CR 350N, Warsaw; and Stephen J. Hausmann, 35, Falcon Drive, Warsaw. Poe was traveling eastbound on Winona Avenue and was near the intersection of McKinley Street, Winona Lake. He said westbound traffic was heavy and he observed a break in the traffic that would allow him to turn northbound on McKinley Street. He turned northbound onto McKinley Street and his vehicle hit Hausmann’s. Damage: Up to $25,000.