By SGT. RON GALAVIZ
Indiana State Police Public Information Officer, Fort Wayne Post

WHITLEY COUNTY — The Indiana State Police continues to investigate a two-vehicle crash which occurred Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 3, at the Whitley and Allen county line that claimed the lives of a 43-year-old woman and an 84-year-old man, both from Columbia City.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Joe Hartman revealed at approximately 2:15 p.m., a 2003 GMC pickup truck driven by 43-year-old Lanaya C. Collier of Columbia City was traveling southbound on Whitley CR 800E approaching the intersection with Lincoln Way Road.

Collier purportedly pulled into the intersection and struck a westbound 2006 Chevrolet passenger car driven by 85-year-old Marilyn J. Fry of Columbia City. As a result of the impact, Collier was ejected from her vehicle and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Both vehicles continued off of the southwest portion of the intersection and into a wooded thicket and ditch. Both Fry and her front seat passenger, 84-year-old Roger F. Fry, who were both seat belted, were trapped and had to be extricated by fire personnel.

Marilyn Fry was transported by ambulance to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. Her condition is not known at this time. Roger Fry was transported by Lutheran Air Ambulance to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later and died.

This crash remains under investigation.