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A Mentone man was paralyzed early Sunday morning in a one-car accident that wasn't discovered until at least 30 minutes after it occurred.
Paul F. Mullins, 56, of South CR 800W, was trapped in his car after the vehicle crossed the center line of Crystal Lake Road, went off the road and struck a tree broadside with the passenger side of his car.
The accident occurred about 20 feet east of Snyder Road, near Warsaw, in the front yard of Ruth Sponseller, West Crystal Lake Road. Sponseller called the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department about 2:30 a.m. Sunday because a suspcious vehicle was in her driveway for about 20 minutes. Sponseller told police that she didn't hear a crash and, from her house, she apparently couldn't see that the vehicle was wrecked. That determination wasn't made until an officer arrived about 3:30 a.m.
At that time, Mullins was found in the vehicle with his arm hanging out the passenger side window. When the officer asked if he was OK, Mullins reportedly said, "Help me."
Mullins was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, where personnel told the officer that he was partially paralyzed throughout his body. He was later airlifted to Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he was listed in serious condition this morning. According to a KCSD report, Parkview officials noted Mullins is being treated for quadriplegia.
Police said alcohol was a factor in the accident; Mullins' blood-alcohol content was .175 percent, nearly twice the limit of alcohol present in the blood stream to be considered legally drunk.
Damage was estimated at $5,000 to $10,000 to Mullins' car and less than $750 to Sponseller's property.
