Iowa Man Killed After Being Run Over By Truck

December 17, 2024 at 8:17 p.m.

By DAVID L. SLONE Managing Editor

A pedestrian was killed Friday when he was run over by a semi truck and trailer on West Crystal Lake Road, Warsaw.
According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office report, at approximately 2:46 p.m. Friday, the KCSO was contacted by Christopher C. Sotelo Morales, 43, of Saint Marys, Ohio, the driver of a blue 2017 Peterbilt 389, in reference to a medical problem at Egg Innovations, 4407 W. Crystal Lake Road, Warsaw.
EMS arrived prior to KCSO Sgt. Matthew Holderman’s arrival and was tending to Jose Guadalupe Aguilar Vargas, 46, of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Vargas was located in front of the front rear axle of the semi’s trailer. EMS requested help to drag Vargas away from there due to the confined space.
At approximately 3:18 p.m. Friday, medics requested the coroner be contacted for Vargas.
The report states the semi went to Egg Innovations to unload product and was driving back to unload between two long barns.
After assisting medics, Holderman spoke with Morales. Morales stated as he was driving forward, he saw Vargas walking on the passenger side of his semi. Morales stated he then was looking forward in the direction of where he needed to unload, then looked in his side mirror and saw Vargas under his trailer wheel, the report states. Morales stated he thought Vargas slipped due to the steep embankment on the corner he was driving around.
Morales said he stopped immediately and believed he drove over Vargas’ hip and stomach area.
Holderman read Morales the Indiana Implied Consent for a fatal or serious bodily injury crash. Morales said he understood and agreed to take a blood test. Holderman took Morales to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital and a blood sample was taken and sent to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology. Results were pending at the time of the accident report.
Morales, and two other persons that were on scene helping but did not witness the wreck were taken to the KCSO and interviewed, and then returned to the original location.
Morales was not injured in the incident and there was no damage to the semi-tractor-trailer, the release states. The vehicle is owned by Melhorn Sales Service & Trucking Co., Mount Joy, Pa.

A pedestrian was killed Friday when he was run over by a semi truck and trailer on West Crystal Lake Road, Warsaw.
According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office report, at approximately 2:46 p.m. Friday, the KCSO was contacted by Christopher C. Sotelo Morales, 43, of Saint Marys, Ohio, the driver of a blue 2017 Peterbilt 389, in reference to a medical problem at Egg Innovations, 4407 W. Crystal Lake Road, Warsaw.
EMS arrived prior to KCSO Sgt. Matthew Holderman’s arrival and was tending to Jose Guadalupe Aguilar Vargas, 46, of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Vargas was located in front of the front rear axle of the semi’s trailer. EMS requested help to drag Vargas away from there due to the confined space.
At approximately 3:18 p.m. Friday, medics requested the coroner be contacted for Vargas.
The report states the semi went to Egg Innovations to unload product and was driving back to unload between two long barns.
After assisting medics, Holderman spoke with Morales. Morales stated as he was driving forward, he saw Vargas walking on the passenger side of his semi. Morales stated he then was looking forward in the direction of where he needed to unload, then looked in his side mirror and saw Vargas under his trailer wheel, the report states. Morales stated he thought Vargas slipped due to the steep embankment on the corner he was driving around.
Morales said he stopped immediately and believed he drove over Vargas’ hip and stomach area.
Holderman read Morales the Indiana Implied Consent for a fatal or serious bodily injury crash. Morales said he understood and agreed to take a blood test. Holderman took Morales to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital and a blood sample was taken and sent to the Indiana State Department of Toxicology. Results were pending at the time of the accident report.
Morales, and two other persons that were on scene helping but did not witness the wreck were taken to the KCSO and interviewed, and then returned to the original location.
Morales was not injured in the incident and there was no damage to the semi-tractor-trailer, the release states. The vehicle is owned by Melhorn Sales Service & Trucking Co., Mount Joy, Pa.

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