Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Two separate crashes 11 minutes apart resulted in the death of a Leesburg man and the serious injury of a Pierceton couple.
Leslie D. Shue, 55, of 3011 E. Armstrong Road, Leesburg, suffered massive head injuries in a 4:05 p.m. accident Thursday and was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred on CR 450N, just east of CR 250E.
According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department report, Shue was eastbound on CR 450N when he approached traffic stopped to make a left-hand turn. Shue avoided hitting the stopped vehicle but traveled off the road, struck a utility pole and rolled over.
Shue was partially ejected from the vehicle; he was not wearing a seat belt.
Damage to his vehicle is estimated at $5,000 to $10,000. Damage to a NIPSCO utility pole is estimated at less than $750. The sheriff's department was assisted by Plain Township EMS, Leesburg Fire Department and the coroner's office.
At 4:16 p.m., sheriff's deputies responded to a second crash at the intersection of Ind. 13 and Old Road 13, involving a dump truck and a motorcycle.
Scott A. Manganaro, 35, of 3104 E. Wooster Road, Pierceton, the driver of the motorcycle, and his passenger, Judy Manganaro, 43, same address, were thrown from the motorcycle. Scott was airlifted to Fort Wayne Parkview Memorial Hospital with massive head injuries and is listed in critical condition. Judy is listed in serious condition at Kosciusko Community Hospital with severe leg fractures.
The driver of the truck, Jason M. Wells, 24, Columbia City, was not injured in the crash.
According to a sheriff's department report, Wells said he stopped at the intersection, looked both ways and then pulled out across Ind. 13. Wells said he thought the intersection was a four-way stop. Two witnesses told the sheriff's deputies Wells disregarded the stop light. Manganaro's motorcycle was crossing the intersection with the green light when it was hit by Wells' dump truck.
According to police reports, Judy Manganaro was not wearing a helmet. It is unknown if Scott Manganaro was wearing a helmet.
Damage to each vehicle was estimated at $750 to $1,000.
Assisting at the scene were North Webster and Pierceton EMS and Fire Departments, Multi Township EMS, Pierceton Police and Indiana State Police.
Both crashes remain under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office.
