Cigarette ash led to a four-vehicle chain-reaction collision Tuesday afternoon on Argonne Road. According to an accident report filed by the Warsaw Police Department, Alison R. Himes, 18, CR 535S, Claypool, was southbound on Argonne Road when she tried to ash her cigarette out her window, but the ash landed on her seat. She looked down to wipe it off, and when she looked back up, all traffic was stopped for the red light on Winona Avenue. Himes was unsure if she had enough time to apply her brakes and her 2001 Pontiac Grand Am rear-ended a 2009 Nissan driven by Christopher S. Gavaranic, 29, of Griffith, Ind., which hit a 1999 Dodge Stratus driven by Britany L. Root, 19, Herscher Drive, Warsaw; which in turn struck a 2000 Toyota Avalon driven by Thomas C. Sweeny, 51, CR 275E, Warsaw. The following injuries were suffered: Makita L. Till, 18, CR 100W, Claypool, the front passenger of Himes’ vehicle, suffered a bloody nose but declined treatment; Abigail I. Cuban, 18, Esplanade Street, Winona Lake, the rear driver side passenger of Hines’ vehicle, complained of wrist pain but declined EMS treatment; Gavaranic, driver of the Nissan, was transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital by EMS for a complaint of neck pain; Root, driver of the Dodge Stratus, was taken to KCH for complaint of neck pain; Mark A. Ogle, 28, Jefferson Street, Warsaw, Root’s passenger, was transported to KCH for complaint of neck and left knee pain. Airbags deployed upon impact in Himes’ vehicle, and all involved were wearing seatbelts. Damages were estimated at between $5,000 and $10,000. Warsaw Police Department investigated the crash, with response from Warsaw Fire Department and Multi-Township EMS.
