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A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Center and Bronson streets in Warsaw Sunday night caused extensive damage to a traffic signal pole.
The pole was removed for safety purposes, and the intersection is currently operating as a four-way stop. A temporary signal pole is available that will allow crews to return the intersection to normal traffic flow, according to the city of Warsaw.
As a result, Center Street will be closed between Court and Sherman streets on Tuesday, Jan. 13 beginning at 9 a.m. Bronson Street, between East Main and East Market streets, will also be closed.
Crews hope to re-open the road for the evening commute.
“Please plan additional travel time and exercise caution when driving through the area,” according to the city.
A Warsaw Police Department crash report states that at 3:54 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to a crash on East Center Street at the intersection with North Bronson Street.
Kylee Bryant, 31, of South CR 200W, Silver Lake, was driving a black Dodge Durango and told officers she was westbound on East Center Street, approaching the intersection with Bronson, when she turned around to give her daughter a piece of chocolate and entered the intersection. She did not know what color the light was, the report states. The passenger side of the Durango was hit by the front end of a silver Toyota Corolla Matrix, driven by Rebecca Bradley, 46, West Baker Street, Warsaw, which was northbound on Bronson Street.
The impact caused the Durango to crash into a traffic light pole on the northwest corner of the intersection, then crash into a fire hydrant before finally coming to a rest on Center Street.
Officers saw Bryant had redness on her wrists, but she refused medical treatment. Bryant also stated she had insurance, but was unable to provide it at the scene of the crash, according to the report.
Brenden Shepherd, 5, Silver Lake, was seated in the rear passenger’s side of the Durango. As a result of the collision, Shepherd hit his head on the window, causing injury. He was bleeding on the right side of his face and was taken for immediate medical treatment by Lutheran EMS.
Kinsley Beck, 11, Silver Lake, was seated in the rear middle of the Durango and suffered a bump on the top of her head.
Bradley stated she was northbound on Bronson Street, approaching the intersection of East Center Street. She stated she believed she had a green light to proceed through the intersection. Bradley stated that while in the intersection, the front end of the Toyota crashed into the passenger’s side of the Durango. Bradley complained of chest pain and was assessed by Lutheran EMS on the scene, but refused further treatment.
A witness stated he was westbound on East Center Street, stopped at the red traffic light in the left turn lane to turn onto Bronson Street. He said the Durango was westbound on Center, disregarded the red traffic light and entered the intersection with Bronson. He stated the Toyota was northbound on Bronson Street and, as they entered the intersection with Center, the front end of the Durango hit the passenger’s side of the Toyota. He said eastbound and westbound traffic had a red light and northbound and southbound had a green light.
Total damage is estimated at between $25,000 and $50,000, according to the report.
