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Two personal injury accidents, both believed to be alcohol-related, put county residents into intensive care units over the weekend.
The first accident occurred at 5 p.m. Friday at the intersection of CR 700N and Harper Road, near Warsaw.
A sport utility vehicle driven by Gilbert Gaona, 24, Nappanee, was, according to witnesses, traveling extremely fast when it attempted to take a curve at the intersection.
Gaona's SUV lost control negotiating the curve, went airborne, hitting a Sprint telephone pole, and was found lying on its top in a cornfield.
Gaona and two passengers, Jeremiah England, 26, and Jason Whitaker, 28, both of Syracuse, were able to climb out of the vehicle. All three were treated and released from Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, for minor injuries.
A third passenger, Charles Shepherd, 23, Syracuse, was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, by Samaritan.
Shepherd was admitted to Parkview's intensive care unit in critical condition. His condition, as of 9:30 a.m. today, is listed as "fair."
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department was assisted by Leesburg Fire Department and Plain Township, Multi-Township and North Webster EMSs.
At 3:39 a.m. Sunday, at the intersection of CR 400N and CR 650W, near Warsaw, a van driven by Terry D. Prater, 30, Warsaw, hit a parked tractor-trailer.
According to a press release, the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department believes Prater's van traveled along the road's northern edge for 150 feet before striking the tractor-trailer head on.
Terry Prater and a passenger, Davey Prater, 23, Claypool, were transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment.
From KCH, Terry Prater was airlifted by Air Angels Air Ambulance to Memorial Hospital, South Bend, where he underwent surgery to repair injuries from the accident.
He was listed in critical condition as of 10 a.m. today.
Davey Prater in listed in stable condition at KCH.
Assisting the Kosciusko Sheriff's Department at the scene were the Atwood and Warsaw fire departments and Multi-Township EMS.
Both accidents are still under investigation by KCSD.
