Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ATWOOD - An area teen was killed Wednesday afternoon when his mo-ped struck a semi-trailer at the intersection of U.S. 30 and CR 700W, near Atwood.
Jason E. Phifer, 15, of Hoffman Lake Road, Warsaw, was pronounced dead at the scene. Kosciusko County Coroner Larry Ladd said Phifer suffered massive head and torso injuries.
The truck driver, Marvin L. Statema of Kenosha, Wis., was not injured in the accident.
According to Statema, he was driving westbound on U.S. 30 approaching the intersection of CR 700W when he saw Phifer in the median crossover, facing north. As the rig came closer to the intersection, the mo-ped suddenly began to move north, into the westbound lanes.
Witnesses and Statema said that the truck swerved to its right into the emergency lane to try to avoid the mo-ped. However, the mo-ped still collided with the side of the semi-trailer. Phifer was thrown into the rear trailer tires and run over.
It is believed that Phifer was attempting to begin traveling westbound on U.S. 30 when he drove into the trailer for an unknown reason. Phifer was wearing a helmet prior to the impact.
Assisting the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department at the scene were personnel with Indiana State Police, Indiana Motor Carrier Division and the Atwood Fire Department.
Phifer was the recipient of a computer in 1991 from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He was diagnosed with a tumor on his brain stem at age 3 and underwent weeks of radiation treatment.
When interviewed in 1991, his mother, Rhonda Phifer, said that Jason had already proven the doctors wrong and outlived their predictions. She said there were no guarantees for the future.
His obituary appears on Page 3A of today's Times-Union.
