Two police vehicles from Warsaw Police Department were involved in separate personal injury crashes only yards apart during Monday evening’s strong storm. The second accident occurred while the officer was responding to the first incident. At approximately 8:55 p.m. Monday, Sgt. Clay Layne was on patrol and driving through the intersection of Center Street at Eastlake Drive when another vehicle ran the red light and collided with the driver's side of Layne's squad car, resulting in personal injury. Officers responded to the area, including Patrol Officer Ross Minear. Minear was responding from the area of Kmart. While traveling west on Frontage Road, Minear’s vehicle hydroplaned, causing Minear to lose control, strike a high-tension power pole, and then roll over in front of Indiana Tech. Minear was trapped in his squad car and was safely rescued. Damage to the pole knocked out power to the east end of Warsaw for most of the night as NIPSCO crews worked to restore power. Both Layne and Minear were transported to Lutheran Hospital to be treated for their injuries and were subsequently released. Warsaw Wayne Fire Territory, Multi-Township EMS, Winona Lake Police, North Webster Police and Grace College security were present at the scene.
