SYRACUSE – A 45-year-old man was airlifted in critical condition from a vehicle crash that occurred Friday evening in northeast Kosciusko County. According to a press release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, deputies and emergency personnel responded to a 911 call Friday at approximately 6:04 p.m. of a vehicular crash at the intersection of CRs 1000E and 1050N. Upon arrival, officers and first responders found a pickup truck that had rolled-over into a soybean field, striking a utility pole and ejecting the driver. The driver, identified as Javier Lopez, 45, Cromwell, was immediately airlifted from the scene to Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, by Samaritan helicopter with head and leg injuries. Lopez’s front-seat passenger, Miguel Sanchez, 30, Syracuse, was also transported by Samaritan helicopter to Parkview with serious leg injuries. Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team crash investigators stated that preliminary investigations have determined that Lopez was southbound on CR 1000E approaching the intersection of CR 1050N when a vehicle that was stopped on CR 1050N suddenly pulled out and into the path of the Lopez’s vehicle. Lopez attempted to swerve to avoid contact with the vehicle, but subsequently went off the east side of CR 1000E and rolled over, striking a utility pole. Witnesses stated that the other vehicle involved did not make contact with Lopez’s vehicle, but left the scene shortly after the crash. The Kosciusko Count FACT stated that the crash is still currently under investigation at this time. Lopez was last listed in critical condition while Sanchez was listed in serious condition at the time of this release. The Kosciusko County FACT was assisted by the Syracuse/Turkey Creek Township EMS and Fire Department, Indiana State Police and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.
