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Two people, including one who was airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital, were injured in accidents overnight.
Larry Wright, 52, of South CR 500E, Warsaw, suffered severe arm, leg and head injuries when he was struck by a car while trying to move a fallen tree from the roadway.
According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department report, Wright was struck by a car driven by Lori M. Shafer, 18, of South CR 525E, Pierceton. A witness to the accident told police that Shafer was traveling "fast," and estimated her speed to be about 60 mph.
Shafer told police she didn't see Wright, who reportedly was thrown about 20 feet from the impact. She said she saw a car parked in the middle of the roadway, but didn't see anybody around the vehicle and slowed to between 40 mph and 50 mph as she approached.
The 8:58 p.m. accident occurred on Ind. 13, 2,329 feet north of CR 525E, near Pierceton.
Shafer was southbound on Ind. 13 and the witness was northbound on the two-lane highway when he started to pull to the side of the road to help Wright remove the tree debris from the roadway. Wright's wife, Becky, was seated in their car, which had its flashers operating, and Wright reportedly motioned for Shafer to stop her vehicle.
Wright was initially taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment and later airlifted to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he was listed in critical condition this morning. Shafer was not injured in the accident.
Assisting at the scene of the accident were personnel from Pierceton police and fire departments and Pierceton and Multi-Township emergency medical services.
In a 12:48 a.m. accident today on Ind. 15, 800 feet north of CR 700S, near Claypool, one man was injured when the car he was driving left the roadway and rolled over several times.
Cesar Montes, 22, of East Levi Lee Road, Warsaw, was trapped in the wreckage of the car until firefighters were able to free him with the help of extrication equipment. Montes suffered head injuries and was unconscious at the scene of the accident. He was taken to KCH, and further information regarding his medical attention was not available.
According to a KCSD report, Montes was southbound at a high rate of speed when he apparently lost control of the vehicle and slid sideways across the roadway and down into a ditch. Once in the ditch, the car continued to slide sideways until striking a tree and rolling over several times before coming to rest on its wheels.
A witness told police Montes passed her southbound vehicle at a high rate of speed about three miles north of the accident scene.
Damage to Montes' car is estimated at $5,000 to $10,000.
The accident remains under investigation.
