Thursday, Dec, 19, 2024 - Capsule reports

Struck woman

An Ossian man was arrested Monday for allegedly fleeing after the vehicle he was driving struck a traffic control woman along U.S. 67 about 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Nicholas W. Reinhard, 34, 268 E. 1200 North, was driving a 2020 Kenworth T680 west on the highway near U.S. 27 as he approached a construction zone, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. Reinhard didn’t see the stop sign held by construction worker Talli Noles, 50, Berne, until it was too late. He slammed on his brakes, and the semi’s trailer started to jackknife, striking Noles in the left arm and causing the traffic sign she was holding to hit her in the stomach. She sustained bruising on her arm and stomach.

Reinhard drove away to let traffic through the intersection and didn’t stay at the scene, according to the report. He was found by police about five miles away.

Reinhard was preliminarily charged with a Level 6 felony for leaving the scene of a crash involving a serious bodily injury. He was released from Jay County Jail on a $3,000 bond.

The semi is registered to Josh Fiechter Farms of Bluffton. Damage is estimated at less than $1,000.

Lost control

A Fort Wayne man was injured after he lost control of the semi he was driving at the intersection of Indiana 26 and county road 50 North, causing an accident about 1:51 p.m. Tuesday.

Chad A. Thomas, 39, was driving a 2020 Kenworth T3 Series on the highway along the curve near county road 50 North. The semi went off the north side of the road, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report, and Thomas swerved across the road in an attempt to correct the vehicle, causing him to go off the south side of the road. The semi rolled over in a ditch on the side of the road, and Thomas was ejected from the vehicle.

Thomas sustained a head injury. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the report. 

Damage is estimated between $25,000 and $50,000.

The semi is registered to Sparks Commercial Tires of Findlay, Ohio. It was towed.