Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union-
A Claypool man is in stable condition at Kosciusko Community Hospital after he suffered a broken leg Thursday night when the car he was driving hit a pole and a fence. Richard A. Patton, 55, East Section Street, told a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department deputy that he fell asleep while driving southbound on Ind. 15, north of CR 700S, near Claypool. Patton said he heard the vehicle on gravel and woke to see a NIPSCO pole directly in front of him. An attempt to swerve to avoid the collision was unsuccessful. The accident occurred about 10:20 p.m. Damage is estimated at $10,000 to $25,000 to Patton's car; $1,000 to $2,500 to the NIPSCO pole, which ended up across the roadway; and less than $750 to the property of Rick Parker, Ind. 15S, Claypool, where a barbed-wire fence was struck. Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union
