Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018

Drove off road 

A Portland man was injured when he drove his car off the road early Thursday morning.

Justin E. Bragg, 27, was driving his 2013 Chevrolet Sonic west on Indiana 26 near its intersection with State Line Road. He told Jay County Sheriff’s Office he swerved to avoid a deer, causing his car to go off the south side of the road, over a private drive and into a deep creek bed. 

Bragg sustained cuts to his head and was transported for medical treatment. 

Damage in the 6:30 a.m. accident is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000. 

Drove off road 

A Salamonia man’s truck sustained an estimated $1,000 to $2,500 in damage Thursday morning when he drove off the road. 

Joshua A. Bonifas, 33, was driving his 2003 Chevrolet Silverado east on county road 400 South near its intersection with county road 800 West. He told Jay County Sheriff’s Office he saw another vehicle parked by the side of the road without any lights on, so he drove off the south side of the road to avoid a collision. The truck then hit a fence. 

The accident occurred at 9:20 a.m. 

Deer collisions 

There were several vehicle collisions involving deer recently. 

Kathryn D. James, 48, Dunkirk, was driving east on county road 200 South near its intersection with county road 700 West when a deer ran out into the road. She told Jay County Sheriff’s Office she was unable to avoid hitting it with her 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, causing an estimated $1,000 to $2,500 in damage. The collision occurred at 7 a.m. Thursday.

At 6:50 a.m. Friday, Jasmine L. Link, 28, Pennville, was driving her 2011 Honda Pilot west on county road 300 North near its intersection with county road 250 West. She was unable to avoid striking a deer that ran out into the road, causing an estimated $1,000 to $2,500 in damage. 

At 6:36 p.m. Friday, Adam M. Osterholt, 27, Ridgeville, was driving north on U.S. 27 near its intersection with county road 650 South when two deer ran out into the road. He swerved to avoid them, but struck one with his 2001 General Motors Sierra. He then lost control of his car, which went off the west side of the road, struck a speed limit sign and spun before coming to rest in the ditch. Damage in the accident is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000. 

Pole struck 

A Geneva man struck a utility pole in Wells County Wednesday after falling asleep while driving. 

Early Wednesday morning, David E. Jones, 21, was driving his 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck south on Indiana 301. The truck went off the west side of the road and struck an Indiana Michigan Power utility pole, causing it to break in half and fall onto the roof of the vehicle. 

Damage in the 3:40 a.m. collision is estimated to be more than $5,000.