Church Van Hit By Truck, Child Dies
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WOODBURN - One child was killed and 10 others injured when the First Christian Church of Warsaw van they were traveling in was struck by a semi tractor/trailer at the intersection of U.S. 24 and Ind. 101, near Woodburn.
Catlyn Gosnell, 11, of Warsaw, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:15 p.m. Wednesday accident. Information as to the extent of her injuries was not available.
The Allen County Sheriff's Department provided a partial list of the other injured children, including:
• Marshall Sanders, 10, of Warsaw, suffered back and leg pain;
• Cassandra J. Cochran, 12, and Kimberly Cochran, 13, both of Warsaw, each suffered minor cuts;
• Erica Tidwell, 11, of Warsaw, complained of abdominal pain;
• Clayson Wilhite, 10, of Warsaw, complained of back pain; and
• Kaitlin Scheider, 11, of Pierceton, suffered scratches to the leg and head.
No other information about the injuried children was available from police. All of the children were fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders, church officials said.
Senior minister Ronnie Sams of First Christian Church of Warsaw said five of the injured were released from medical facilities and returned home. Five children remain hospitalized at Parkview or Lutheran hospitals in Fort Wayne.
The driver of the van, children's minister A. Scott Smiley, 30, of Warsaw, suffered a dislocated shoulder. Sams said Smiley is expected to be released from Lutheran Hospital later today.
According to the ACSD, Smiley was on Ind. 101 waiting to cross U.S. 24 when the vehicle ahead of him started into the intersection. As Smiley started across the highway, the van he was driving was struck by a semi tractor/trailer driven by Donald Albert, 41, of Montrose, Pa.
Evidence at the scene indicated Albert attempted to swerve to avoid the collision, but struck the van on its driver's side. The semi rig then overturned, blocking the east and westbound lanes of U.S. 24, which remained closed for several hours as a result of the accident.
The church van was en route to Woodburn Christian Children's Home on a missions trip. The children were planning to paint an outdoor shelter and take part in a barbecue with the children living in the home.
Sams said Smiley had gotten lost and stopped to call for directions prior to the accident. Smiley apparently thought the intersection was a four-way stop and didn't see the semi, Sams said.
"(Smiley) woke up with kids laying all around," Sams said. "He's just beside himself."
A prayer service took place at the church Wednesday night, but no other services are scheduled at this time.
"Right now, we're just trying to take care of the families and the kids," Sams said.
The accident remains under investigation by the Allen County Sheriff's Department. [[In-content Ad]]
WOODBURN - One child was killed and 10 others injured when the First Christian Church of Warsaw van they were traveling in was struck by a semi tractor/trailer at the intersection of U.S. 24 and Ind. 101, near Woodburn.
Catlyn Gosnell, 11, of Warsaw, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:15 p.m. Wednesday accident. Information as to the extent of her injuries was not available.
The Allen County Sheriff's Department provided a partial list of the other injured children, including:
• Marshall Sanders, 10, of Warsaw, suffered back and leg pain;
• Cassandra J. Cochran, 12, and Kimberly Cochran, 13, both of Warsaw, each suffered minor cuts;
• Erica Tidwell, 11, of Warsaw, complained of abdominal pain;
• Clayson Wilhite, 10, of Warsaw, complained of back pain; and
• Kaitlin Scheider, 11, of Pierceton, suffered scratches to the leg and head.
No other information about the injuried children was available from police. All of the children were fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders, church officials said.
Senior minister Ronnie Sams of First Christian Church of Warsaw said five of the injured were released from medical facilities and returned home. Five children remain hospitalized at Parkview or Lutheran hospitals in Fort Wayne.
The driver of the van, children's minister A. Scott Smiley, 30, of Warsaw, suffered a dislocated shoulder. Sams said Smiley is expected to be released from Lutheran Hospital later today.
According to the ACSD, Smiley was on Ind. 101 waiting to cross U.S. 24 when the vehicle ahead of him started into the intersection. As Smiley started across the highway, the van he was driving was struck by a semi tractor/trailer driven by Donald Albert, 41, of Montrose, Pa.
Evidence at the scene indicated Albert attempted to swerve to avoid the collision, but struck the van on its driver's side. The semi rig then overturned, blocking the east and westbound lanes of U.S. 24, which remained closed for several hours as a result of the accident.
The church van was en route to Woodburn Christian Children's Home on a missions trip. The children were planning to paint an outdoor shelter and take part in a barbecue with the children living in the home.
Sams said Smiley had gotten lost and stopped to call for directions prior to the accident. Smiley apparently thought the intersection was a four-way stop and didn't see the semi, Sams said.
"(Smiley) woke up with kids laying all around," Sams said. "He's just beside himself."
A prayer service took place at the church Wednesday night, but no other services are scheduled at this time.
"Right now, we're just trying to take care of the families and the kids," Sams said.
The accident remains under investigation by the Allen County Sheriff's Department. [[In-content Ad]]