Accident Victim's Condition Upgraded To 'Serious'

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor-

Charges are likely when police determine the identity of the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident in which an injured passenger was left behind.

James Hale, 24, of Warsaw, suffered head and internal injuries in the Feb. 25 accident on CR 500S, between CRs 400E and 500E. Hale was found unconscious in the back seat of the car and nobody else was in or around the vehicle. The car struck a pole.

The accident, under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, occurred around 4:30 a.m. Feb. 25 and was discovered when a nearby resident called police to report a possible prowler. Police believe the "prowler" was one or two other occupants of the car leaving the scene of the accident.

At first, police didn't know whether Hale or someone else in the car was the driver, but officials now believe that Hale was not driving the car when the accident occurred.

Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said investigators have talked with several people and plan to talk with Hale when he is physically/medically able to do so. The investigation continues.

A family member informed the Times-Union this week that Hale is out of a coma and, according to a representative of Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne, Hale's condition has been upgraded from critical to serious. [[In-content Ad]]

Charges are likely when police determine the identity of the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident in which an injured passenger was left behind.

James Hale, 24, of Warsaw, suffered head and internal injuries in the Feb. 25 accident on CR 500S, between CRs 400E and 500E. Hale was found unconscious in the back seat of the car and nobody else was in or around the vehicle. The car struck a pole.

The accident, under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, occurred around 4:30 a.m. Feb. 25 and was discovered when a nearby resident called police to report a possible prowler. Police believe the "prowler" was one or two other occupants of the car leaving the scene of the accident.

At first, police didn't know whether Hale or someone else in the car was the driver, but officials now believe that Hale was not driving the car when the accident occurred.

Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said investigators have talked with several people and plan to talk with Hale when he is physically/medically able to do so. The investigation continues.

A family member informed the Times-Union this week that Hale is out of a coma and, according to a representative of Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne, Hale's condition has been upgraded from critical to serious. [[In-content Ad]]

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