Capsule Reports - Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025

Left the road

A Portland man lost control of his truck and crashed into a house along U.S. 27 about 5:26 p.m. Sunday.

Alexander J. Mathews, 24, was driving a 2013 Ford F-150 north on the highway near county road 500 North when he left the road for an unknown reason, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. The vehicle he was driving left the road, went down into a ditch and struck the side of a building at 4707 N. U.S. 27, Portland, owned by Brent Cline.

Alexander Mathews complained of head pain, and his passenger, 4-year-old Leon Mathews of Portland, sustained bruising on his face. Alexander Matthews allegedly left the scene of the accident with Leon Mathews.

Mathews was arrested Sunday for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in a serious bodily injury, a Class C misdemeanor, and neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony. He was released from Jay County Jail on an $11,000 bond.

His vehicle was towed. Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.

Arm pain

A Dunkirk man complained of arm pain after he lost control of his vehicle along county road 400 South and hit a pole about 1 p.m. Sunday.

Larry D. Richwine, 73, was driving his 2013 Chrysler 200 west on the road near county road 800 West when he lost control of his car on the snow-covered road. Richwine’s vehicle slid and went off the south side of the road, striking an American Electric Power utility pole.

Richwine was transported to IU Health Jay for his injury. His vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Backing accident

A Portland man crashed into a Pennville man backing his vehicle out of his driveway along county road 550 West about 10 a.m. Saturday.

Arthur T. Buschur, 61, was backing a 1993 Ford F-150 out of his driveway near county road 650 North when he noticed an oncoming 2012 Ford F-250. He attempted to pull back into his driveway, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report, but wasn’t able to reenter it. Adam R. Brenneman, 22, was driving the Ford F-250 north on the road when he noticed Buschur backing out of his driveway. He wasn’t able to stop because of slick road conditions, causing him to crash into the back of Buschur’s car. The back of Brenneman’s car struck a utility pole owned by Jay County REMC.

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Tree hit

A Geneva woman lost control of the van she was driving and hit a tree along Indiana 67 about 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Garcia Rolando, 44, was driving a 2004 Honda Odyssey east on the highway near county road 650 East when she lost control on the snow-covered road, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. She drove off the road into a yard at 6665 E. Indiana 67, hitting a tree on the front passenger side of the van. 

Rolando was cited with an infraction for driving with expired plates, and the van she was driving was towed.

The tree and yard are owned by Mike Kimmel. Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000. 

Teen flipped

A Fort Recovery teen lost control of the car he was driving and flipped it along county road 300 South about 6:14 p.m. Friday.

Ethan J. Wenning, 16, was driving a 2011 Ford F-150 east on county road 300 South when he lost control because of snow and slick road conditions, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. His car left the road and rolled over onto its top.

The vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Hit pole

A Portland woman lost control on Hayes Street and crashed into a pole about 5 p.m. Friday.

Misty A. Coleman, 35, was driving on Arch Street in Portland when she turned north onto Hayes Street. Her vehicle started sliding because of snow on the road, according to a Portland police report, causing it to strike a pole.

Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.

Mailboxes hit

A Portland man lost control of the truck he was driving and crashed into mailboxes, a boulder and two signs on county road 400 North about 3:10 p.m. Sunday.

Tyler H. Weesner, 21, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado west on the road near its intersection with U.S. 27 when he lost control of the truck. The vehicle slammed into two mailboxes, a landscaping boulder and drove over two signs, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report.

The vehicle Weesner was driving was towed. The damaged property is owned by Kandy Strausburg. Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.