MILFORD – Police officially released the name of a Milford man killed in a Friday morning motorcycle collision. Officers arrived and located Russell P. Whetten, 54, Milford, along with his motorcycle in the roadway. The Times-Union reported Whetten as the victim Friday. The Kosciusko County Coroner’s office pronounced Whetten dead at the scene from blunt force trauma after he had struck a pickup truck that had been partially in the roadway. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies and emergency personnel responded to a 911 call at 2:46 a.m. Friday in regards to a motorcycle crash at the location of 188 East, CR 1150N, Milford. Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team investigators stated that Whetten was westbound on CR 1150N when he struck a silver 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck owned by Charles A. Byrket, Milford. Byrket had apparently backed his truck into his driveway to hitch a mobile trailer for transport just prior to the crash. FACT investigators stated that Byrket’s truck was sticking out into the travel portion of the roadway. Byrket was not inside the truck at the time of the collision but was apparently at the rear of the truck connecting the trailer. FACT investigators stated that the crash is still under investigation at this time pending legal blood draws as required by Indiana law. Kosciusko County FACT was assisted at the scene by the Milford Police Department, Multi-Township EMS, Indiana State Police and KCSD.
