Van Rolls, Kills Driver
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SEVASTOPOL - One man died, the other walked away unharmed from a one-van accident at 3:05 p.m. Monday.
The two men were driving a van that rolled over on CR 700S, one-half mile east of CR 1000W, near Sevastopol Monday afternoon. The driver, Randy C. Miller, 23, Tippecanoe, was pronounced dead at the scene of massive head injuries. The passenger, Zebulen Trinity Dotson, 20, of 305 S. Walnut St., Mentone, was looked at by paramedics but was not injured. He was later arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor.
Miller was partially ejected from the van, which apparently rolled on top of him. His legs were caught in the steering wheel when police arrived. Deputy coroner John Sadler said the cause of Miller's death was multiple blunt traumatic head injuries.
Mentone Marshal Jim Eads was first on the scene in response to the 911 call. He said the initial reports of the accident said the van rolled over a number of times and the driver was ejected.
Eads said the Mentone EMS arrived shortly after him and could not find a pulse on the driver. Dotson crawled out a broken window of the van uninjured.
A witness told police the van stopped on the roadway and the witness passed it. He said the van then appeared to take off at a high rate of speed.
Dotson reportedly told police they were driving east on CR 700S when the van went off the road on the left side. Miller then reportedly swerved back to go off the road on the right, then came back across the road to the left.
When the van hit the embankment and ditch, Dotson said, it rolled over several times before landing on its tires in a corn field.
According to police, Dotson and Miller were not wearing seatbelts. Dotson reportedly told police he was thrown into the back of the van when it rolled over.
Police said alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the accident. Dotson is being held in Kosciusko County Jail on $175 bond for possession/consumption of alcohol by a minor.
Dotson stood on the road behind the police cars at the scene staring at the covered body of Miller. When Sadler removed the cover to move the body, Dotson turned away and closed his eyes.
Police had difficulty identifying Miller since he was not carrying a wallet. The van Miller was driving was registered to Pletcher Furniture in Nappanee.
The Mentone EMS, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and Mentone Fire Department assisted at the scene. [[In-content Ad]]
SEVASTOPOL - One man died, the other walked away unharmed from a one-van accident at 3:05 p.m. Monday.
The two men were driving a van that rolled over on CR 700S, one-half mile east of CR 1000W, near Sevastopol Monday afternoon. The driver, Randy C. Miller, 23, Tippecanoe, was pronounced dead at the scene of massive head injuries. The passenger, Zebulen Trinity Dotson, 20, of 305 S. Walnut St., Mentone, was looked at by paramedics but was not injured. He was later arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor.
Miller was partially ejected from the van, which apparently rolled on top of him. His legs were caught in the steering wheel when police arrived. Deputy coroner John Sadler said the cause of Miller's death was multiple blunt traumatic head injuries.
Mentone Marshal Jim Eads was first on the scene in response to the 911 call. He said the initial reports of the accident said the van rolled over a number of times and the driver was ejected.
Eads said the Mentone EMS arrived shortly after him and could not find a pulse on the driver. Dotson crawled out a broken window of the van uninjured.
A witness told police the van stopped on the roadway and the witness passed it. He said the van then appeared to take off at a high rate of speed.
Dotson reportedly told police they were driving east on CR 700S when the van went off the road on the left side. Miller then reportedly swerved back to go off the road on the right, then came back across the road to the left.
When the van hit the embankment and ditch, Dotson said, it rolled over several times before landing on its tires in a corn field.
According to police, Dotson and Miller were not wearing seatbelts. Dotson reportedly told police he was thrown into the back of the van when it rolled over.
Police said alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the accident. Dotson is being held in Kosciusko County Jail on $175 bond for possession/consumption of alcohol by a minor.
Dotson stood on the road behind the police cars at the scene staring at the covered body of Miller. When Sadler removed the cover to move the body, Dotson turned away and closed his eyes.
Police had difficulty identifying Miller since he was not carrying a wallet. The van Miller was driving was registered to Pletcher Furniture in Nappanee.
The Mentone EMS, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and Mentone Fire Department assisted at the scene. [[In-content Ad]]