The finished Warsaw Police Department accident report has provided more details about the two-semi collision on U.S. 30 Monday.
According to the report, at 11:47 a.m. Monday Rafael A. Woods, 52, Fort Wayne, was driving a semi-tractor pulling a box van trailer eastbound on U.S. 30, 290 feet east of Ind. 15. Wood’s semi-tractor then rear-ended the trailer of a semi-tractor driven by Lloyd P. Feltner, 52, Kendallville.
The cab separated from the frame of Woods’ semi and it was laying on the driver’s side of the roadway. Woods was trapped in the cab compartment until he was extricated from the truck by Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Territory personnel.
According to the accident report, there was a large amount of debris, diesel fuel and oil covering the roadway due to the damage from Woods’ semi.
Woods was treated at the scene by Lutheran EMS and then flown to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
At the hospital, Woods told a WPD officer he was traveling in the right lane behind Feltner’s semi. He saw the traffic slowing down or stopped and was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision. Woods said he swerved to the left, but was still unable to avoid a collision.
A witness said she was traveling eastbound on U.S. 30 in a passenger vehicle in the right-hand lane. She said Woods passed her on the left and, after Woods went around her vehicle, there was a lane closure ahead and Woods then moved back to the right lane. The witness said she believed Woods jerked the vehicle at some point but was unsure which direction. The witness said it almost looked like the truck was going to jack-knife prior to the collision with Feltner’s semi.
Feltner said traffic was backed up due to an closure ahead of him on U.S. 30. He said he believed there was a state highway truck on the overpass for Ind. 15 with an arrow sign indicating the left lane was closed. Feltner said he was stopped in traffic when he saw Woods move into the left land and then move back into the right lane. Feltner said he believed Woods saw Feltner and, at that time, looked away from his mirror. Feltner said he felt the impact unexpectedly.
Feltner was transported to the hospital by the WPD officer to be evaluated for injuries at Kosciusko County Hospital. He complained of chest pain.
Woods and Feltner both consented to a legal blood draw for drugs and alcohol and the results are pending.
