SUV Hits Pole, Fence, House South Of Leesburg
January 24, 2024 at 10:23 p.m.
An SUV allegedly going too fast for the weather conditions Tuesday afternoon hit a fence and a home south of Leesburg.
The accident occurred at about 4:20 p.m. on North Ind. 15, about 1,000 feet north of West Levi Lee Road, according to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office crash report.
Cristian Jimenez, Akron, stated he pulled out of the address of 4643 N. Ind. 15, turning south on Ind. 15. His vehicle began to stall and he pulled it to the right side of the road and put his four-way flashers on. His vehicle was halfway off the road and halfway in the southbound lane of Ind. 15, the report states.
Rochelle Brettell, Milford, stated she was driving south on Ind. 15 when she saw Jimenez pull out into the roadway, slow down and pull to the right side of the road, putting his four-way flashers on. She said she had to brake very hard to avoid rear-ending the man’s vehicle. She then stated she saw, in her rearview mirror, a maroon 2012 Ford Edge SUV approaching from the rear at a high rate of speed and it was unable to stop without colliding into her vehicle. Brettell stated the SUV then swerved around her vehicle and went into the ditch, striking a utility pole, fence and house.
Rebecca Royce, Leesburg, stated she was traveling south behind the SUV at some distance. She saw the Brettell’s vehicle stopping quickly and the SUV swerved to the right to avoid hitting Brettell’s vehicle. Royce stated the SUV went off the road and into the house.
According to the crash report, when the SUV - driven by Gloria Ruiz, 51, of North Old 15, Warsaw - left the road, it first hit an unknown cable utility pole, causing minor damage. The vehicle then continued across the yard of 4559 N. Ind. 15, owned by Judy Newsom. The SUV then hit a plastic fence and continued into the side of the residence, pushing the outer wall of the house in, approximately 3 feet.
There were no injuries from inside the residence.
Ruiz complained of chest pain and was taken to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital.
The KCSO officer investigating the crash then went to the hospital to speak with Ruiz. She stated the vehicle in front of her stopped quickly and, when she attempted to stop, she slid in the snow and slush on the edge of the road and lost control of the SUV.
The SUV is registered to Luis Esqueda, North Canal Street, Leesburg.
Damage was preliminarily estimated at $25,000 to $50,000.
An SUV allegedly going too fast for the weather conditions Tuesday afternoon hit a fence and a home south of Leesburg.
The accident occurred at about 4:20 p.m. on North Ind. 15, about 1,000 feet north of West Levi Lee Road, according to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office crash report.
Cristian Jimenez, Akron, stated he pulled out of the address of 4643 N. Ind. 15, turning south on Ind. 15. His vehicle began to stall and he pulled it to the right side of the road and put his four-way flashers on. His vehicle was halfway off the road and halfway in the southbound lane of Ind. 15, the report states.
Rochelle Brettell, Milford, stated she was driving south on Ind. 15 when she saw Jimenez pull out into the roadway, slow down and pull to the right side of the road, putting his four-way flashers on. She said she had to brake very hard to avoid rear-ending the man’s vehicle. She then stated she saw, in her rearview mirror, a maroon 2012 Ford Edge SUV approaching from the rear at a high rate of speed and it was unable to stop without colliding into her vehicle. Brettell stated the SUV then swerved around her vehicle and went into the ditch, striking a utility pole, fence and house.
Rebecca Royce, Leesburg, stated she was traveling south behind the SUV at some distance. She saw the Brettell’s vehicle stopping quickly and the SUV swerved to the right to avoid hitting Brettell’s vehicle. Royce stated the SUV went off the road and into the house.
According to the crash report, when the SUV - driven by Gloria Ruiz, 51, of North Old 15, Warsaw - left the road, it first hit an unknown cable utility pole, causing minor damage. The vehicle then continued across the yard of 4559 N. Ind. 15, owned by Judy Newsom. The SUV then hit a plastic fence and continued into the side of the residence, pushing the outer wall of the house in, approximately 3 feet.
There were no injuries from inside the residence.
Ruiz complained of chest pain and was taken to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital.
The KCSO officer investigating the crash then went to the hospital to speak with Ruiz. She stated the vehicle in front of her stopped quickly and, when she attempted to stop, she slid in the snow and slush on the edge of the road and lost control of the SUV.
The SUV is registered to Luis Esqueda, North Canal Street, Leesburg.
Damage was preliminarily estimated at $25,000 to $50,000.