UPDATE: Truck Found In Eagle Creek
Warsaw Police were called to South Columbia Street near Godman Street just after 5 a.m. Sunday morning when a pickup truck was found in Eagle Creek.
According to a Warsaw Police report completed Monday morning, Kosciusko County Central Dispatch received a call at 5 a.m. Sunday morning advising that a vehicle was in the water near Godman and South Columbia streets. The co-owner of the vehicle, Kay Scheuer, said her brother, Carl David Saint, 35, of Warsaw, had been driving the truck and had been on a date.
After giving his date a ride to her home on South Columbia Street after a night of drinking, Saint allegedly failed to negotiate the turn at Godman Street and continued driving approximately 400 feet through a wooded area and into Eagle Creek. Police did locate the woman Saint had been with and she was safe at her home.
Scheuer told police Saint was very intoxicated when he made it to her home where he is staying at 2441 W. 250 South. She was unsure if her brother’s date was still in the vehicle. When the information was dispatched to police and Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire personnel, it was noted the vehicle was stolen and they were unsure if anyone was inside.
Scheuer stated they were able to locate the vehicle because they stopped at the Village Pantry where Saint said he walked after his crash. Police say the attendant was able to recall around the location that Saint had told her he had crashed. The Village Pantry attendant advised that Saint came in approximately 2:30 a.m. soaking wet.
Two officers went down to Eagle Creek to locate the truck and confirm it was unoccupied.
The vehicle was found to be uninsured and was towed from the water by Reichert’s. While investigating the crash, Cpl. Brandon Zartman learned that Saint was wanted on a warrant out of Kosciusko County.
Saint said he could not remember the details of the crash. He remembered dropping off his date and then started driving home when her apparently took a wrong turn. He said when he got out of the vehicle after he drove into the water, he walked to the Village Pantry where the manager gave him a ride home.
Although alcohol was the contributing factor in the crash, police say they are not able to pursue OWI charges because of the time that had lapse between the crash and the time police were notified.
Saint was, however, arrested on an unrelated warrant. Reichert’s towed the vehicle. Saint was cited for driving without insurance and was held on a $500 cash bond. Saint had been an EMT with Mentone EMS for more than 12 years, but has not been affiliated with them since October 2013. He also ran for the office of Kosciusko County Coroner in 2012.
Damages to the truck were estimated at $2,500.