Four Teens Hurt When Vans Roll
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Four Teens Hurt When Vans Roll
By Jen [email protected]
Jarrod A. Lewis, 17, Pierceton, was listed in critical condition and Charles E. Shepherd Jr., 16, Pierceton, was in fair condition this morning at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. Paul J. Nadolski, 19, Pierceton, was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, in serious condition Tuesday, and Austin L. Striggle, 14, Pierceton, was taken to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, in serious condition, but was not listed in the hospital's registry as of this morning.[[In-content Ad]]When officers arrived at the scene of the crash, they discovered two vehicles that had either flipped over or rolled several times on opposite sides of Ind. 14.
According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, the crash occurred around 7:48 a.m. Tuesday on Ind. 14 near CR 700E, west of South Whitley, when a van driven by Lewis reportedly pulled out in front of cars driven by Garret Alan Vande, 18, Pierceton, and Nadolski.
The Kosciusko County crash reconstruction team believes that Nadolski made an attempt to pass both Vande's vehicle and Lewis's van, but Vande decided to pass at the same time, forcing Nadolski off the road.
Nadolski's car then lost control, went off the north side of the road, came back on the road and hit Lewis' van.
After the impact, both vehicles flipped and rolled off Ind. 14. Lewis and his front-seat passenger, Shepherd, were thrown from the van. Striggle also was a passenger in Lewis' van, but he was not ejected.
Lewis was airlifted from the scene by Samaritan Air Ambulance and taken to Parkview Hospital.
Vande left the scene of the crash and later was found at his home in Pierceton. He was not injured in the crash, but he was taken to KCH for a blood draw after police obtained a warrant to test for illegal substances.
All the teens are students at Whitko High School. Lewis and Striggle are starters on the football team. Lewis, the team captain for the Wildcats, is an inside linebacker, while Striggle is a starting lineman on both offense and defense.
"We will prepare to play Rochester, they are the best team in the conference, but that preperation is going to be on the back burner," said Whitko Football Coach Wayne Swender. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Jarrod (Lewis)."
Members of the crash investigation team believe that speed was a large factor in the crash, but are awaiting the results of blood draws from all the people in the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department was assisted at the scene by the Sidney and South Whitley fire departments, Life Med and Whitley County EMS, and the South Whitley Police Department.
Jarrod A. Lewis, 17, Pierceton, was listed in critical condition and Charles E. Shepherd Jr., 16, Pierceton, was in fair condition this morning at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. Paul J. Nadolski, 19, Pierceton, was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, in serious condition Tuesday, and Austin L. Striggle, 14, Pierceton, was taken to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, in serious condition, but was not listed in the hospital's registry as of this morning.[[In-content Ad]]When officers arrived at the scene of the crash, they discovered two vehicles that had either flipped over or rolled several times on opposite sides of Ind. 14.
According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, the crash occurred around 7:48 a.m. Tuesday on Ind. 14 near CR 700E, west of South Whitley, when a van driven by Lewis reportedly pulled out in front of cars driven by Garret Alan Vande, 18, Pierceton, and Nadolski.
The Kosciusko County crash reconstruction team believes that Nadolski made an attempt to pass both Vande's vehicle and Lewis's van, but Vande decided to pass at the same time, forcing Nadolski off the road.
Nadolski's car then lost control, went off the north side of the road, came back on the road and hit Lewis' van.
After the impact, both vehicles flipped and rolled off Ind. 14. Lewis and his front-seat passenger, Shepherd, were thrown from the van. Striggle also was a passenger in Lewis' van, but he was not ejected.
Lewis was airlifted from the scene by Samaritan Air Ambulance and taken to Parkview Hospital.
Vande left the scene of the crash and later was found at his home in Pierceton. He was not injured in the crash, but he was taken to KCH for a blood draw after police obtained a warrant to test for illegal substances.
All the teens are students at Whitko High School. Lewis and Striggle are starters on the football team. Lewis, the team captain for the Wildcats, is an inside linebacker, while Striggle is a starting lineman on both offense and defense.
"We will prepare to play Rochester, they are the best team in the conference, but that preperation is going to be on the back burner," said Whitko Football Coach Wayne Swender. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Jarrod (Lewis)."
Members of the crash investigation team believe that speed was a large factor in the crash, but are awaiting the results of blood draws from all the people in the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department was assisted at the scene by the Sidney and South Whitley fire departments, Life Med and Whitley County EMS, and the South Whitley Police Department.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092