It’s been a dangerous couple of days on Michiana roadways, resulting in several police investigations:
A man drove his truck into a pole Sunday in LaPorte County with a blood alcohol level that was almost six times the legal limit. Police say the man had a B.A.C. of .478 when he drove into a utility pole. The truck was left in gear when police arrived, and the tires were smoking with the front end of the truck firmly wedged against the pole. The driver was taken to LaPorte Hospital. Police were seeking a warrant to charge him with drunk driving.
A motorcyclist was hospitalized after a vehicle turned suddenly in front of her in Cass County. Police say it happened shortly after 4 p.m. on Monday, Sep. 17, on US 12 near Gumwood Road. The 47-year-old South Bend woman on the motorcycle the bike after an 83 year-old Dowagiac woman turned into her. She was not wearing a helmet and was treated for minor injuries. Alcohol was not believed to have been a factor.
A crash Monday afternoon in Elkhart County left a Nappanee man with life-threatening injuries. It took place around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Sep. 17, on US 6 about three miles east of Nappanee. The 21 year-old driver who was hurt reportedly crossed the center line and hit a pickup truck driven by a Goshen man. The second driver complained of arm pain. The Nappanee man was said to have sustained life-threatening injuries all over his body.
A crash in Marshall County involving a box truck and a semi injured both drivers. The collision happened around 9:15 a.m. on Monday, Sep. 17, near State Road 17 and State Road 8. The semi was turning when it pulled into the path of the box truck, according to officials. The semi driver, from Detroit, was taken to a hospital in Plymouth. The box truck’s driver, from Valparaiso, was airlifted to a hospital in South Bend.
A crash in Berrien County sent two people to the hospital. It happened in Baroda at Stevensville-Baroda and Hinchman Roads shortly before 8:30 AM. According to police, a woman said the sun was in her eyes when she was at the stop sign and her vehicle struck that of a man who had the right-of-way. She was wearing a seatbelt, but the driver of the second vehicle was not. Bother were taken to the hospital.
