Capsule Reports - Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025

Rear collision

A rural Portland man sustained a head injury after another Portland man drove into the back of his buggy on U.S. 27 about 5 p.m. Monday.

Charles H. Bye, 79, was driving a 2003 Buick Century north just south of county road 600 North when he looked off the road at a barn amid construction. He told police he then crashed into the back of the horse-drawn cart driven by 23-year-old Amos Schwartz.

Bye’s vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Lost control

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000 after a Pennville woman lost control along county road 300 North, causing her to crash into a pole about 6:30 a.m. Monday.

Brittany N. Bailey, 40, was driving a 2007 Honda Accord east on the road just west of county road 500 West. She was driving faster than reasonable for weather conditions, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. Her vehicle wasn’t able to maneuver a curve and went off-road, slamming into a utility pole registered to Jay County REMC.

The vehicle was towed.

Slick snow

A Dunkirk man’s vehicle was towed after he lost control along county road 400 South and crashed into a pole about 10:45 a.m. Monday.

Luke N. Hamilton, 35, was driving a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic east on the road near county road 1100 West when his vehicle lost traction, causing him to slide off the south side of the road and hit a pole.

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000. 

Struck vehicle

A Bryant woman’s vehicle was towed after she crashed into a Geneva woman’s car along Indiana 18 in Jay County about 8:38 a.m. Monday.

Catherine M. Brandebourg, 51, was driving her 2018 Subaru Forester east on the highway near county road 550 West when her car began to fishtail on the snow-covered road, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. Her vehicle moved into the westbound lane and struck a 2004 GMC Yukon XL driven by 66-year-old Kelly W. Weikel of Geneva.

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.

Hit trees

A Pennville woman lost control of her car along county road 500 North, causing her to crash into trees off road about 7:50 a.m. Monday.

Megan L. Suman, 36, was driving a 2022 GMC Acadia east on the road near county road 250 West when her car began spinning out because of slick road conditions. Her car went off the north side of the road and into a ditch, where it struck a few trees.

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