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ETNA GREEN - Police say a Rochester man is dead because of an alleged drunk driver.
Matthew E. Moore, 29, Rochester, was pronounced dead at 5:04 p.m. Thursday at Parkview Hospital from injuries he suffered in the two-vehicle accident Thursday. Darrell Hopkins, 39, a passenger in Moore's vehicle, was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital for minor injuries.
Jeffery Reed, 29, of 2441 W. CR 250S #149, Warsaw, was arrested for leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 5:13 p.m. Thursday on a $2,000 bond.
According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department press release, the central dispatch received a call in reference to a personal injury accident Thursday at 2:35 p.m. at the intersection of Ind. 19 and CR 250N.
Moore was northbound on Ind. 19 driving a sport utility vehicle when a greenish-blue eastbound vehicle on CR 250N disregarded a stop sign and pulled into the path of Moore's SUV, witnesses told the KCSD. The collision caused Moore's SUV to overturn several times. Moore was ejected from his vehicle and treated at the scene before being airlifted to Parkview Hospital by Samaritan air ambulance.
The other vehicle left the scene, continuing east on CR 250N.
While investigating the scene, officers received a report of a vehicle on CR 100N, west of CR 700W, in a field matching the description of the vehicle that fled the scene. Upon officer's arrival, officers determined the abandoned vehicle was involved in the accident. The vehicle was a 1994 dark green Pontiac registered to Kathy Foreman, Warsaw.
A second report of a man walking east on CR 100N, near the intersection of CR 525W, was made to central dispatch. Officers found the man who was identified as Reed. Reed allegedly told officers his car had a flat tire and he pulled it off into a field. Reed had in his possession the keys and registration to the vehicle allegedly involved in the accident. Foreman allegedly is Reed's girlfriend.
Based on evidence collected at the accident scene and on Reed, Reed was arrested. He was transported to KCH, where an alcohol and drug screen were conducted after officers obtained a search warrant from the prosecutor's office. Test results were unavailable as of this morning, but alcohol is believed to be a factor and more charges against Reed are likely, pending investigation.
The KCSD was assisted at the scene by Etna Green Fire Department First Responders, Multi-Township EMS and Samaritan Air Ambulance.
