BURKET - An early morning single-vehicle accident has claimed the life of a Rochester man and severely injured two others.
Lucas R. Manns, 25, Rochester, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on CR 700W near Burket early this morning by Kosciusko County Coroner John Sadler. Manns suffered massive head injuries.
Two passengers in the vehicle, Joey Manns, 19, Rochester, and Leha D. Oaks, 20, Burket, suffered head injuries in the crash. Joey Manns was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital and later transferred to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, for treatment of head injuries. Oaks, who also suffered severe head injuries, was airlifted to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, for treatment. According to hospital officials, both Joey Manns and Oaks were listed in serious condition this morning.
Around 1:15 a.m. today, the Kosciusko County Dispatch Center received a report of a pickup truck that had crashed into a tree on CR 700W, just south of CR 850S near Burket.
When officers and rescue crews arrived, they found a crashed 2000 Ford Ranger with one person dead and two people severely injured.
According to the Kosciusko County crash investigation team, Lucas Manns was driving southbound on CR 700W when his truck went off the east side of the road. He reportedly over-corrected and slid sideways, hitting a tree.
The crash remains under investigation at this time, pending legal drug and alcohol tests.
Officers do not believe anyone in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The Burket Fore Department, Mentone EMS, Life-Med EMS, Indiana State Police and Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department assisted the Kosciusko County crash investigation team at the scene.
