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The first snow of the season brings an increase in car accidents throughout the area.
Since this snow storm began Thursday evening, at least seven weather-related accidents have been reported to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and the Warsaw Police Department. However, none of the accidents reportedly involved injuries.
Kosciusko County Sheriff Al Rovenstine warned motorists to drive carefully in the snow.
"They should prepare themselves because we'll probably have a lot more," said Rovenstine. "Since this is the first one (snow storm), people forget what driving on the snow is like."
Warsaw Police Corporal Eric Coburn tells drivers "to use due caution and slow down."
Three accidents were reported Thursday evening. A car driven by Jim Hamilton, 26, Pierceton, struck a utility pole on CR 500N, near North Webster. Roy E. Draving, 68, Peru, told police he slid off Ind. 15 at the intersection of CR 300S, near Warsaw. Damage to both men's cars was estimated at $1,000-$2,500.
A two-car collision occurred on Parker Street and Walter Way, Warsaw, because of the snow. Jeffrey R. Kue, 21, Warsaw, told police that he slid into a car driven by Ted Westerhof, 24, Warsaw. Damage was minor to each car.
Early this morning, a pickup drove onto a patch of ice and flipped over. The pickup, driven by Darrell W. Yoder, 20, Etna Green, was on CR 1000W, south of CR 1000N, near Nappanee. Yoder was not injured. Damage to his pickup was estimated at $1,000-$2,500.
Two area women reported damage to their cars this morning because of the snowy roads. Dianna K. Newell, 51, Warsaw, reported her car hit a fence on McKenna Road, near North Webster. Vickie S. Bradley, 36, North Webster, received more than $1,000 damage to her car when she slid off CR 150W north of U.S. 30 near Warsaw.
A van hit a city of Warsaw snowplow at 5:40 this morning at the intersection of Market and Lincoln streets, Warsaw. Christopher E. Baldridge, 29, Warsaw, told police he was driving west on Market Street and did not see the snowplow. He said he tried to swerve, but still collided with the plow. The driver of the snowplow, Charles E. Engle, 64, reported he was plowing Market Street and was turning left onto Lincoln Street when the van hit him. Damage was estimated at $750 to the snowplow, $1,000-$2,500 to Baldridge's van.
