Three unidentified persons from Mexico were killed in a three-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon.
According to an Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office crash news release, the accident occurred at about 3:02 p.m. Thursday on Ind. 15, south of CR 146.
The deceased were all occupants in a 2009 Dodge Journey, with the driver listed as “unknown.” Names of the occupants are listed as pending in the report, as of Friday. One occupant was a 32-year-old male from Mexico. The other two were 24 and 28, with no further information available.
The drivers of the other two vehicles involved in the accident reported no injuries.
The report states the Dodge Journey was traveling south on Ind. 15, south of CR 146. A 2020 International LT625 semi-tractor, driven by Mark Labouef, 49, of Almo, Ky., was traveling north on Ind. 15, south of CR 146. The third vehicle, a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, driven by Lezlie Hein, 34, of Warsaw, was traveling south on Ind. 15, directly behind the Dodge Journey.
The Dodge abruptly turned left, crossing the center line into the northbound lane, directly in front of the semi-tractor, the report states. The Dodge’s passenger side collided with the front of the semi-tractor. The Pacifica was hit with debris.
Two occupants of the Dodge were ejected from the vehicle. The other passenger of the Dodge was entrapped in the vehicle. All three occupants of the Dodge were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Dodge Journey sustained heavy damage all over, while the semi-tractor sustained heavy front-end damage. The Pacifica had minor front-end damage.