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PIERCETON - Three people were injured early Saturday in a two-vehicle accident that was caused by a deer.
David L. Dillinger, 45, of Elkhart, was trapped in the wreckage of his pickup after the 2:20 a.m. accident on Ind. 13, north of CR 400S, and had to be extricated. He suffered neck injuries and was airlifted to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he was listed in serious condition late this morning.
According to a press release issued by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Dillinger's northbound pickup was struck nearly head-on when a southbound car driven by Matthew T. Falgier, 20, of Osceola, swerved to miss a deer in the roadway.
Falgier and witnesses told police that two deer entered the roadway just prior to the collision. Despite Falgier making an evasive movement, one of the deer was struck and Falgier's car then collided with Dillinger's pickup. The deer was found dead at the scene.
Falgier complained of chest, knee and wrist pain and a passenger in his car, William C. Sellers, no age or address available, complained of shoulder, hip and knee pain. Falgier and Sellers were both treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, and released.
Both vehicles sustained extensive front-end damage. Damage to each vehicle is estimated at $5,000 to $10,000.
The accident remains under investigation.
Assisting at the scene of the accident were personnel from Pierceton Fire Department and Pierceton and Multi-Township emergency medical services.
