October 6, 2021 at 4:23 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021
Capsule Reports
Truck rolled
A Muncie woman and her granddaughter were hospitalized after her 9-year-old grandson started a truck left in first gear, causing it to roll into them and pin them against another vehicle in rural Bryant about 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Nine-year-old William M. Steen of Muncie got into and started a 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup truck at 7870 W. 650 North. It was in first gear and began to roll forward, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. The truck struck 2-year-old Abigail G. Steen of Burlington, Wisconsin, and 63-year-old Jone A. Steen of Muncie, pinning them between the vehicle and a 2001 Ford F250. Both Abigail and Jone Steen were moved from between the vehicles by the time medics arrived.
Abigail was flown by Lutheran Air to IU Health Jay and later Ball Memorial Hospital of Muncie for a chest injury, and Jone Steen was transported to IU Health Jay for a similar injury.
House fire
A dryer vent started a fire in a rural Portland home early Tuesday morning.
Portland Fire Department received a call to extinguish flames about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday inside Aaron and Kendra McLaughlin’s home at 1928 N. 350 West. The fire started in the kitchen, where the washer and dryer are located, and moved to a nearby bathroom. Portland fire chief Mike Weitzel noted damage is mainly contained to the two rooms, with some smoke damage throughout the house.
Kendra McLaughlin posted to Facebook about 10 a.m. Tuesday and said her family was safe. She thanked first responders for helping to “control what could have been a fire that destroyed our entire house.”
Six firetrucks arrived on scene, with 12 firefighters from Portland and seven firefighters from Bryant and Pennville fire departments. The house fire was marked under control less than 40 minutes after responders arrived.
Fell asleep
Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000 after a Warsaw man fell asleep while driving, causing his vehicle to go into a ditch off county road 650 North and hit two poles and a fence about 2 a.m. Monday.
Darrell J. Cox, 31, was driving a 2014 International truck west on the road just east of Indiana 1 when he fell asleep. The truck went into a nearby ditch, colliding with a utility pole that broke and fell. It continued west and smashed into a second utility pole, causing it to break and fall on top of the truck. It then smashed into the fence at 8239 W. 650 North.
The vehicle Cox was driving, which is registered to Maple Leaf Farms of Leesburg, Florida, was towed.
Lost control
A Portland woman veered her car off county road 200 South, causing it to roll about about 7:05 p.m. Monday.
Katina G. Kootz, 46, was driving west on the road near county road 700 West when she veered right into the ditch and overcorrected, causing her vehicle to roll numerous times. Kootz’s landed on its wheels, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report.
Kootz was transported to a hospital for a back injury. Her vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.
Deer hit
A Portland man’s vehicle collided with a deer on county road 300 West about 7:20 p.m. Monday.
Eric M. Collins, 42, was northbound on county road 300 West just north of county road 125 South when a deer entered the road from an eastern field. Collins wasn’t able to avoid hitting the animal with his 2017 Ford F350.
Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.
A Muncie woman and her granddaughter were hospitalized after her 9-year-old grandson started a truck left in first gear, causing it to roll into them and pin them against another vehicle in rural Bryant about 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Nine-year-old William M. Steen of Muncie got into and started a 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup truck at 7870 W. 650 North. It was in first gear and began to roll forward, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. The truck struck 2-year-old Abigail G. Steen of Burlington, Wisconsin, and 63-year-old Jone A. Steen of Muncie, pinning them between the vehicle and a 2001 Ford F250. Both Abigail and Jone Steen were moved from between the vehicles by the time medics arrived.
Abigail was flown by Lutheran Air to IU Health Jay and later Ball Memorial Hospital of Muncie for a chest injury, and Jone Steen was transported to IU Health Jay for a similar injury.
House fire
A dryer vent started a fire in a rural Portland home early Tuesday morning.
Portland Fire Department received a call to extinguish flames about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday inside Aaron and Kendra McLaughlin’s home at 1928 N. 350 West. The fire started in the kitchen, where the washer and dryer are located, and moved to a nearby bathroom. Portland fire chief Mike Weitzel noted damage is mainly contained to the two rooms, with some smoke damage throughout the house.
Kendra McLaughlin posted to Facebook about 10 a.m. Tuesday and said her family was safe. She thanked first responders for helping to “control what could have been a fire that destroyed our entire house.”
Six firetrucks arrived on scene, with 12 firefighters from Portland and seven firefighters from Bryant and Pennville fire departments. The house fire was marked under control less than 40 minutes after responders arrived.
Fell asleep
Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000 after a Warsaw man fell asleep while driving, causing his vehicle to go into a ditch off county road 650 North and hit two poles and a fence about 2 a.m. Monday.
Darrell J. Cox, 31, was driving a 2014 International truck west on the road just east of Indiana 1 when he fell asleep. The truck went into a nearby ditch, colliding with a utility pole that broke and fell. It continued west and smashed into a second utility pole, causing it to break and fall on top of the truck. It then smashed into the fence at 8239 W. 650 North.
The vehicle Cox was driving, which is registered to Maple Leaf Farms of Leesburg, Florida, was towed.
Lost control
A Portland woman veered her car off county road 200 South, causing it to roll about about 7:05 p.m. Monday.
Katina G. Kootz, 46, was driving west on the road near county road 700 West when she veered right into the ditch and overcorrected, causing her vehicle to roll numerous times. Kootz’s landed on its wheels, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report.
Kootz was transported to a hospital for a back injury. Her vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.
Deer hit
A Portland man’s vehicle collided with a deer on county road 300 West about 7:20 p.m. Monday.
Eric M. Collins, 42, was northbound on county road 300 West just north of county road 125 South when a deer entered the road from an eastern field. Collins wasn’t able to avoid hitting the animal with his 2017 Ford F350.
Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD