Nappanee Man and Passenger Airlifted from Accident
Posted
Kaitie Vanderpool-
A Nappanee man and his passenger were airlifted to a South Bend trauma center Saturday after a two-vehicle collision in Warsaw. According to the crash report, police responded around 2:20 p.m. to an accident on West CR 900N near the intersection of Ind. 19 and observed a motorcycle on its side in the roadway. Driver Jeffery U. Mast, 22, North CR 1000W, Nappanee, and his passenger were being treated by medics at the scene. Medics told police that Mast had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, but his passenger had been. The two were transported to Southbend Memorial Hospital via air ambulance for treatment. Mast was unable to provide a statement at the time of the accident. Police then spoke with Trent L. Hershberger, 46, North CR 1000W, Nappanee, who advised he had been pulling out on CR 900N to proceed east from a driveway. He was operating a full-sized, four-door truck pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with bales of hay. Hershberger stated he looked both ways and only saw a horse-drawn buggy approaching slowly, so he proceeded. Once Hershberger was in the roadway, he stated he observed Mast’s vehicle passing the buggy so he attemped to clear the roadway to avoid a collision. His rear tires spun out and Mast’s vehicle struck the trailer at the front axle. Officers reported they did detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage while speaking with Hershberger, but he stated he had stopped drinking at noon that day. His BAC registered below the legal limit and he completed and passed field sobriety tests. The report also stated the area in which the accident occured was observed to be a “No Passing” zone.
