Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - A Pierceton woman is in critical condition at a Fort Wayne hospital after an accident this morning at the intersection of East Wawasee Drive and CR 1400N, near Syracuse.
Kristina Smith, 21, of East CR 350S, suffered unspecified injuries in the 6:02 a.m. accident. She was taken to Goshen General Hospital and then airlifted to Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne.
Smith was a passenger in a car driven by Patrick J. Robinson, 18, of East Nordman Drive, Syracuse.
According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Robinson was eastbound on CR 1400N when he reportedly ran a stop sign at East Wawasee Drive. CR 1400N Ts into that road and has the only stop sign at the intersection.
Robinson's car was struck in the passenger side by a pickup driven by Eric A. Kesling, 30, of Columbia City. Robinson and Kesling reportedly suffered minor injuries.
Both drivers were subjected to blood tests for alcohol and drugs, a procedure that is standard for all serious accidents. Robinson was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court on a traffic violation, officials said.
