Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The driver of this van was seriously injured this morning after rear-ending a semi tractor/trailer at the intersection of U.S. 30 and CR 250E, just east of Warsaw. Melvin Stivers, 39, of South First Street, Pierceton, was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, and later transferred to a Fort Wayne hospital. The accident occurred about 8:30 a.m. According to Sgt. Chad Hill of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, the traffic light on U.S. 30 had just turned green and semi driver Alvin Beichler, 39, of Creston, Ohio, was beginning to accelerate when Stivers struck Beichler's rig from behind. Stivers reportedly suffered head and chest injuries and was unconscious at the scene. Emergency crews had to use the Jaws of Life to free Stivers from the wreckage. Hill said police received reports of Stivers driving erratically prior to the collision with the semi. One witness was nearly sideswiped, according to police.
