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ATWOOD - Two people are dead and another was injured after a two-car accident Tuesday afternoon on U.S. 30.
Charlotte M. Pryor, 76, of 7724 W. Forrest Ave., Warsaw, and her husband, Clark K. Pryor, 82, suffered massive internal injuries. Both were airlifted from the scene to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, where Mrs. Pryor was pronounced dead on arrival and Mr. Pryor died at 7:05 p.m.
Mrs. Pryor was trapped in the wreckage of her car until being freed with assistance from firefighters using a hydraulic extrication tool.
According to an Indiana State Police report, Pryor was northbound on Hoffman Lake Road (CR 750W) when she pulled into the path of an eastbound car driven by Stanley J. Greener, 39, of Fort Wayne. Greener complained of chest pain and was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital and released.
The ISP report noted that Greener was in the driving lane of eastbound U.S. 30 when Pryor failed to yield the right of way. The Pryors' West Forrest Avenue address is in the housing subdivision just north of the intersection the Pryors were crossing.
Police also said that although both of the Pryors were wearing seat belts, it is the opinion of the investigating officer that the use of the safety equipment could not have prevented the fatalities. However, the fact that Greener also was wearing a seat belt did reduce or prevent more serious injuries to him.
Eastbound lanes of U.S. 30 remained closed for more than an hour while emergency crews tended to the victims and debris from the accident scene was cleared. Due to the severity of the injuries, the Samaritan helicopter ambulance came to the scene to transport the victims. Accommodating the helicopter also caused westbound lanes of U.S. 30 to be closed for a short time.
Assisting at the scene of the accident were personnel from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department; Etna Green, Atwood and Warsaw fire departments; and Multi-Township and Bourbon emergency medical services.
