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Ray Burkholder, 54, of Suburban Acres Mobile Home Park #132, Warsaw, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident which was reported at 4:12 a.m.
According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, the exact time of the accident is not known. It was discovered at 4:12 a.m. by a Kosciusko County Highway Department snowplow truck driver.
Police said an in-store videotape shows Burkholder was at the BP Station at U.S. 30 and Parker Street shortly before the accident, possibly 15 to 30 minutes prior.
Cpl. Chad Hill of the KCSD said it appeared Burkholder was northbound on Husky Trail going down a hill when he lost control of his car on the icy roadway north of Harrison School. Police said it appeared Burkholder was traveling too fast for road conditions. Burkholder's car apparently spun left of center before going off the west side of the road and striking a NIPSCO pole with the passenger side of the car. Hill said the car was basically wrapped around the utility pole.
Burkholder suffered head and internal injuries, but Hill said those injuries probably wouldn't have been as severe had Burkholder been wearing a seat belt. The damage to the car was mostly on the passenger side and Burkholder reportedly slid across the bench front seat into the passenger compartment, colliding with the pole his vehicle had struck.
Burkholder was the only occupant in the vehicle. Police believe alcohol may have been a factor in the crash. Police said results of a blood-alcohol test will be available later.
