3 Suffer Back Pain In 2-Pickup CollisionATWOOD – Three people were hospitalized with back pain after a Saturday afternoon accident at the intersection of West U.S. 30 and North CR 500W, Atwood.
The two-pickup collision occurred at about 3:09 p.m., according to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s accident report.
The accident involved a partial ejection.
When deputy Jim Smith arrived, he saw a black 2004 Chevrolet Silverado resting on the northwest corner of the intersection in the field with heavy right side damage. It was determined the pickup had overturned at least one time and came to rest on its wheels. The driver – Leslie A. Patrick, 38, South Walnut Drive, North Webster – and a passenger – Kevin L. Hobbs, 53, South Scott Road, Claypool – were still in the pickup, complaining of back pain.
Smith saw the second truck, a blue 2013 GMC, on the north side of the westbound lanes of U.S. 30, south of the Chevrolet. The GMC, driven by Ronald L. Swihart, 65, West CR 550N, Rochester, had extensive front-end damage.
Patrick told Smith she was going north on CR 500W and that she did not see the other truck on U.S. 30 until she was already crossing the roadway.
Swihart said he was going west on U.S. 30 when Patrick’s truck failed to yield to him and drove in front of his vehicle, causing the accident.
Two witnesses traveling west on U.S. 30 and behind Swihart’s truck said they saw Patrick’s truck fail to yield.
Patrick was taken to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne by air ambulance. Hobbs and Swihart were taken to a hospital by ground ambulance. All three patients complained of back pain.
