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A 22-year-old Kosciusko County man was killed in a 4:10 p.m. two-vehicle collision Friday on Crystal Lake Road, 519 feet west of CR 400W.
Joshua Kabe Elkins, 22, Claypool, was killed Friday when the vehicle he was driving struck a van, spun sideways and slid off the roadway into a county highway guardrail.
According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office press release, a 911 call was received reporting a two-vehicle accident on Crystal Lake Road. Arriving officers spoke with Larry D. Miller, 63, West CR 200S, Warsaw, who said that he was westbound on Crystal Lake Road when he suddenly heard tires "squealing" and a 2000 Saturn 4-door struck the front of his 1997 Dodge van.
The Saturn spun sideways after clipping the front corner of Miller's van and slid off the north side of the roadway into a county highway guardrail. The guardrail went completely through the vehicle, killing Elkins on impact.
Police believe Elkins was passing Miller and attempted to cut back in front of the van, struck the corner and then spun out of control.
Kosciusko County Coroner Larry Ladd pronounced Elkins dead at the scene.
It is unknown if alcohol was a factor in the accident. Seat belts were determined to have been worn by both drivers involved.
Police reports indicate the vehicle Elkins was driving was an Enterprise LSG Co., Indianapolis, rental car rented to Jamie Miller, 20, of Warsaw.
Damage to Larry Miller's vehicle was estimated at $750-$1,000. Damage to the Enterprise vehicle was estimated at $2,500-$5,000. There was no estimate of damage to the guardrail.
Assisting at the scene were the Warsaw Fire Department, Atwood Fire Department, Multi-Township EMS and Indiana State Police.
