Kosciusko County officials are investigating a crash south of Warsaw that claimed the life of a North Manchester man Saturday night. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Dept. deputies and emergency personnel responded Saturday at 9:48 p.m. to a reported motorcycle and pickup truck crash near the intersection of Ind. 15 and CR 350S. Responders arrived and immediately located the motorcycle driver, identified as Jeff D. Gable, 51, North Manchester. Kosciusko County Coroner Anthony Ciriello pronounced Gable deceased from blunt force trauma injuries, according to a press release from the KCSD. Responders also located the driver of pickup truck, Kevin C. Bell, 49, Winona Lake, and his passenger, Vickie L. Hepler, 59, also of Winona Lake. Hepler complained of chest pain and was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital in serious condition, while Bell was purportedly not injured. There were two juveniles in the vehicle, one of which complained of chest pain. Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team members stated that a preliminary investigation into the crash determined Bell had been traveling eastbound on CR 350S and had stopped at the intersection. Bell then turned north onto Ind. 15, but had pulled into the path of Gable who was southbound, where he impacted the front of the 2013 Ford F150 pickup truck, the release states. Officers stated that the crash is still under investigation. Kosciusko County FACT was assisted at the scene by members of the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, Lutheran EMS Kosciusko and the KCSD.
