The wreckage of the cab of the semi that Rafael A. Woods, 52, Warsaw Street, Fort Wayne, was driving lies on US 30 on Monday, June 13. Woods was flown by helicopter to Memorial Hospital in South Bend after suffering a broken finger, shattered pelvis and dislocated hip in an accident involving another semi. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

Staff Report

WARSAW — A Fort Wayne man was seriously injured in a crash involving two semis on Monday, June 13.

Rafael A. Woods, 52, Warsaw Street, Fort Wayne, was flown to Memorial Hospital in South Bend via helicopter following the wreck that happened shortly before noon Monday. It happened on US 30, east of SR 15 in Warsaw.

According to a Warsaw Police Department accident report, Woods was traveling east on US 30 in a 2018 Volvo semi-tractor with a box trailer. Ahead of him, Lloyd P. Feltner, 52, East Mapes Road, Kendallville, was also traveling east in a 2013 Volvo semi-tractor with a trailer with an open top.

Woods told police while at the hospital that he saw traffic in front of him slowing/stopped, and was unable to stop in time. He swerved his semi to the left, but couldn’t avoid a collision.

His semi hit the back of Feltner’s, with the impact separating the cab of Woods’ semi from the trailer it was pulling.

Woods was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extricated by Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory. He suffered a broken finger, shattered pelvis and dislocated hip.

Feltner was taken by a police officer to Kosciusko Community Hospital to be evaluated for injuries. He complained of chest pain.

Feltner told police that traffic was backed up on US 30 before the accident occurred due to a lane closure ahead. A witness said that Woods’ semi went around her vehicle in the left lane before moving back into the right lane before the wreck occurred.

Accident damages are estimated at up to $100,000.