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A Warsaw girl was killed and another seriously injured in a car accident Saturday night at the intersection of Ind. 15 and CR 300S, near Warsaw.
Amanda Meerzo, 17, was pronounced dead at the scene by Kosciusko County Coroner Larry Ladd from head injuries.
Meezo was the passenger in a car driven by Jill Walters, 16, Warsaw. Walters was taken to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, where she was listed in critical but stable condition this morning.
According to police reports, the girls were headed west on CR 300S at 8:42 p.m. They apparently pulled into the path of a pickup headed south on Ind. 15.
The investigators said the pickup struck the car in the passenger side door. Both vehicles continued off the corner of the intersection until they struck a telephone pole.
The driver of the pickup, Uriel Juarez, 28, Warsaw, fled the scene, running into a cornfield after the accident. The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department searched the ground with its K-9 unit, and the Indiana State Police helicopter conducted an air search.
Police have been unable to find Juarez. He was possibly injured from the accident and may have a laceration on his head. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department or the Bremen State Police Post.
Also injured in the accident were the four passengers in the pickup. Laura Juarez, 5, was treated for a minor eye injury. Giovany Juarez, 7, was treated for a minor forehead injury. Maria Juarez, 4, was treated for a knee injury. Letisha Cerventes, 27, was treated for face and leg injuries. All are from Warsaw.
Assisting the sheriff's department and state police were Warsaw police and fire departments, Silver Lake Police Department, Winona Lake Police Department and Multi-Township EMS.
