News Release

FULTON COUNTY — Tobias Mullet, 34, Nappanee; Christopher Wallace, 30, Holton and Tyler Newton, 34, LaPaz, sustained injuries in two separate crashes at CR 700N and US 31 Thursday afternoon, Feb. 9.

Mullet suffered head injuries and was transported by ambulance to South Bend Memorial Hospital.

Wallace suffered what appeared to be minor injuries and was transported to Woodlawn Hospital for treatment.

Newton suffered a leg injury and was transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital.

Emergency personnel in Fulton County were dispatched to the intersection at 2:02 p.m.

Preliminary investigation by Senior Deputy Matt Craig revealed Mullet’s 2008 Chevrolet pickup truck was westbound on CR 700N, crossing US 31. The truck crossed the northbound lane continuing west and drove into a southbound semitractor/trailer driven by Wallace. The semitractor/trailer was an empty milk tanker. The impact of the crash caused the semitractor/trailer to exit the west side of the roadway, south of the intersection.

While recovering the semi, Newton, an employee for Reichert & Knepp was struck by a recovery vehicle and suffered the leg injury.

Initial investigation by Deputy Ryan Utter revealed a 1989 International recovery vehicle driven to the scene by Matthew Riffel, 38, Plymouth, was left in neutral without the emergency brake engaged.

While the recovery vehicle was unoccupied, it rolled down the embankment and struck Newton. The recovery vehicle then struck the driver’s side tire of the crashed semitractor, stopping the recovery vehicle from further injuring Newton. Newton as able to be removed from the two vehicles without any mechanical extrication.

Assisting the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Rochester Fire Department, Lutheran EMS, Fulton County EMA and Indiana Department of Transportation. Motorist experienced various lane closures in the area for over three hours while the scene was investigated and cleaned.