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Five injured in separate crashes |
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Wednesday, October 07 2009 |
Four Whitko High School students were injured Tuesday morning after a failed attempt to pass a van caused two cars to roll off the road and two people to be ejected.
By Chris Meyers
Staff writer
Four Whitko High School students were injured Tuesday morning after a failed attempt to pass a van caused two cars to roll off the road and two people to be ejected.
According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, 19-year-old Paul J. Nadolski of Pierceton was eastbound on state Route 14 with 18-year-old Garret A. Vande following behind him when the crash occurred.
Witness statements lead police to believe that a van driven by 17-year-old Jarrod A. Lewis of Pierceton pulled onto state Route 14 in front of Nadolski and Vande, who both tried to pass the van at the same time.
According to the report, as Vande went to make the pass, he forced Nadolski — who had also started to pass — off the north side of SR14.
As Nadolski came back on the road, he struck the side of Lewis’ van, which caused both to flip and roll off opposite sides of the highway, according to police.
Lewis and 16-year-old Charles E. Shepherd Jr. of Pierceton, who were not wearing seat belts, were ejected from the van. Lewis was airlifted from the scene in critical condition.
According to Parkview Hospital, he remains in critical condition, as does Shepherd Jr.
A third passenger in the Lewis vehicle, Austin L. Striggle, 15, was taken by ambulance to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne in serious condition.
Nadolski was transported by ambulance from the scene in serious condition. An updated condition was not available today.
Vande, who was not injured, left the scene and was found at home by the sheriff’s department and taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for a blood draw.
Police believe that speed was a factor in the crash based on witness statements and damage to the vehicles.
Whitko High School Principal Parrish Kruger said the school has plans in place to deal with events such as this.
“Kids are grieving here, and this is the first time some our children have experienced someone being in a deadly crash,” he said.
The school’s guidance department will be available to students who need to talk to someone.
Kruger said the school is considering a fundraising drive to help the families of the injured students with any expenses they will incur.
“We’re here to support them,” he said of the students and families.
SUV slams into semi
A Fort Wayne man was injured Tuesday night when he pulled into the path of a semi on U.S. 30 near Larwill after he had already been hit by another semi.
According to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, 40-year-old Brian J. Hoar had backed onto U.S. 30 from the tattoo parlor east of state Route 5 and was struck by a semi tractor-trailer.
Hoar left the scene, went westbound through Larwill and north on Depot Street to get back onto U.S. 30, according to police.
As he pulled onto the highway, he was struck by another semi and caused heavy damage to the front of his SUV.
He faces charges of operating while intoxicated, leaving the scene of a crash and driving while suspended.
According to initial reports, his last operating while intoxicated conviction was November 2008.
E-mail staff writer Chris Meyers at
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Last Updated ( Thursday, October 08 2009 )
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