November 24, 2021 at 5:25 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021
Capsule reports
Police increasing
Indiana State Police announced Monday that it will be increasing patrols beginning this week as part of the Safe Family Travel campaign.
AAA predicts that 48.3 million people will be driving for the holidays. Officers will be out in order to discourage impaired driving and ensure drivers and passengers are properly buckled.
The additional patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and will continue through New Year’s Day.
“Driving impaired, not wearing a seat belt and speeding are always concerns around this time of year,” said Lt. Corey Culler, district commander for the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post in a press release. “That’s why we’re increasing patrols and encouraging those traveling to buckle up, drive sober and slow down. It’s better to be late and reach your destination safely, than not at all.”
Teen hospitalized
A Bryant teen was hospitalized after losing control of his vehicle on U.S. 27 about 5:40 a.m. Tuesday.
Matthew D. Wolfcale, 16, was driving his 2002 Buick LeSabre south on the highway near Bryant when he entered the curve at an unsafe speed, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. He told police he wasn’t able to control the vehicle and it left the road, striking a road sign and going into a ditch. His Buick rolled several times before coming to a stop on its wheels in the northern field.
Wolfcale was transported to IU Health Jay for chest pain. His vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.
Deer hit
Animals caused five accidents recently.
Brian W. Schaffner, 56, Willshire, Ohio, was driving a 2019 Peterbilt truck east on Indiana 18 just east of county road 550 West about 11:50 p.m. Friday when he spotted a deer in the road. Schaffner wasn’t able to avoid colliding with the animal, causing between $1,000 and $2,500 in damage estimated. (The vehicle Schaffner was driving is registered to CCT Company of Convoy, Ohio.)
Sara L. Spahr, 34, Portland, was driving west on Indiana 26 just east of county road 300 East about 4:40 a.m. Saturday when a deer ran in front of her 2018 Toyota Sienna. Spahr’s vehicle collided with the animal, causing between $1,000 and $2,500 in damage estimated.
Glen E. Geesaman, 83, Pennville, was driving south on Indiana 1 near county road 200 North about 6:45 a.m. Saturday when a deer ran into the roadway. Geesaman wasn’t able to avoid colliding with the animal, causing between $1,000 and $2,500 in damage estimated to his 2007 Dodge Caravan.
James B. Pickett, 61, Portland, was driving south on U.S. 27 near county road 500 South about 6:14 p.m. Saturday when a deer ran in front of his 2013 Chevrolet Silverado. Pickett wasn’t able to avoid hitting the animal, and the collision resulted in a broken headlight and bent hood. Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.
Travis R. Shreeve, 32, Ridgeville, was driving east on county road 800 South just east of county road 500 East about 5:40 a.m. Monday when a deer ran in front of his 2010 Chrysler Town & Country. Shreeve’s vehicle collided with the animal, causing between $5,000 and $10,000 in damage. The vehicle was towed.
Lost control
A Portland man lost control of the vehicle he was driving on Indiana 67 about 8:41 a.m. Saturday.
Bryce A. Deboy, 32, Portland, was driving east on Indiana 67 near county road 700 South with a child in the backseat.
He told Jay County Sheriff’s Office the child got out of its seatbelt and he was attempting to put the restraint back on the child when the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox he was driving went off the roadway. Deboy attempted to return to the road but was unable to do so. Instead, the vehicle continued north and into a ditch, causing damage to its front end.
Deboy was cited with a misdemeanor for driving with a suspended license. Damage to the vehicle — it is registered to Christine F. Brown of Portland — is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.
Intersection collision
Damage is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500 after a Portland man’s vehicle collided with the vehicle a Winchester woman was driving at the intersection of Meridian and First streets about 8:21 a.m. Monday.
Homer Butcher Jr., 95, told Portland police he was on Fifth Street and turning his 2009 Honda Civic north onto Meridian Street when his vehicle struck a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, driven by Tabitha M. White, 32, who was turning west onto Fifth Street.
The vehicle White was driving is registered to Todd M. Merritt of Winchester.
Backing accident
A Portland man backed his vehicle into oncoming traffic on Morton Street about 1:56 p.m. Monday, causing a collision.
Foster J. Brooks, 41, told Portland Police he looked north and south before backing out of his driveway onto Morton Street near Race Street. He told police he didn’t see the southbound 2006 Ford Focus, driven by William A. Montgomery, 79, Portland, on the street. Brooks’ 2013 Chevrolet Sonic struck Montgomery’s vehicle, causing between $2,500 and $5,000 in damage estimated.
Parking crash
Two vehicles collided in a Portland parking lot after a Union City woman backed her car into another vehicle about 3:27 p.m. Monday.
Connie S. St. Myers, 58, Union City, told Portland Police she was backing her 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer out of the shopping center at 597 N. Meridian St. when she collided with a southbound 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Susan J. Confer, 48, Portland.
Damage is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.
Indiana State Police announced Monday that it will be increasing patrols beginning this week as part of the Safe Family Travel campaign.
AAA predicts that 48.3 million people will be driving for the holidays. Officers will be out in order to discourage impaired driving and ensure drivers and passengers are properly buckled.
The additional patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and will continue through New Year’s Day.
“Driving impaired, not wearing a seat belt and speeding are always concerns around this time of year,” said Lt. Corey Culler, district commander for the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post in a press release. “That’s why we’re increasing patrols and encouraging those traveling to buckle up, drive sober and slow down. It’s better to be late and reach your destination safely, than not at all.”
Teen hospitalized
A Bryant teen was hospitalized after losing control of his vehicle on U.S. 27 about 5:40 a.m. Tuesday.
Matthew D. Wolfcale, 16, was driving his 2002 Buick LeSabre south on the highway near Bryant when he entered the curve at an unsafe speed, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. He told police he wasn’t able to control the vehicle and it left the road, striking a road sign and going into a ditch. His Buick rolled several times before coming to a stop on its wheels in the northern field.
Wolfcale was transported to IU Health Jay for chest pain. His vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.
Deer hit
Animals caused five accidents recently.
Brian W. Schaffner, 56, Willshire, Ohio, was driving a 2019 Peterbilt truck east on Indiana 18 just east of county road 550 West about 11:50 p.m. Friday when he spotted a deer in the road. Schaffner wasn’t able to avoid colliding with the animal, causing between $1,000 and $2,500 in damage estimated. (The vehicle Schaffner was driving is registered to CCT Company of Convoy, Ohio.)
Sara L. Spahr, 34, Portland, was driving west on Indiana 26 just east of county road 300 East about 4:40 a.m. Saturday when a deer ran in front of her 2018 Toyota Sienna. Spahr’s vehicle collided with the animal, causing between $1,000 and $2,500 in damage estimated.
Glen E. Geesaman, 83, Pennville, was driving south on Indiana 1 near county road 200 North about 6:45 a.m. Saturday when a deer ran into the roadway. Geesaman wasn’t able to avoid colliding with the animal, causing between $1,000 and $2,500 in damage estimated to his 2007 Dodge Caravan.
James B. Pickett, 61, Portland, was driving south on U.S. 27 near county road 500 South about 6:14 p.m. Saturday when a deer ran in front of his 2013 Chevrolet Silverado. Pickett wasn’t able to avoid hitting the animal, and the collision resulted in a broken headlight and bent hood. Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.
Travis R. Shreeve, 32, Ridgeville, was driving east on county road 800 South just east of county road 500 East about 5:40 a.m. Monday when a deer ran in front of his 2010 Chrysler Town & Country. Shreeve’s vehicle collided with the animal, causing between $5,000 and $10,000 in damage. The vehicle was towed.
Lost control
A Portland man lost control of the vehicle he was driving on Indiana 67 about 8:41 a.m. Saturday.
Bryce A. Deboy, 32, Portland, was driving east on Indiana 67 near county road 700 South with a child in the backseat.
He told Jay County Sheriff’s Office the child got out of its seatbelt and he was attempting to put the restraint back on the child when the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox he was driving went off the roadway. Deboy attempted to return to the road but was unable to do so. Instead, the vehicle continued north and into a ditch, causing damage to its front end.
Deboy was cited with a misdemeanor for driving with a suspended license. Damage to the vehicle — it is registered to Christine F. Brown of Portland — is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.
Intersection collision
Damage is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500 after a Portland man’s vehicle collided with the vehicle a Winchester woman was driving at the intersection of Meridian and First streets about 8:21 a.m. Monday.
Homer Butcher Jr., 95, told Portland police he was on Fifth Street and turning his 2009 Honda Civic north onto Meridian Street when his vehicle struck a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, driven by Tabitha M. White, 32, who was turning west onto Fifth Street.
The vehicle White was driving is registered to Todd M. Merritt of Winchester.
Backing accident
A Portland man backed his vehicle into oncoming traffic on Morton Street about 1:56 p.m. Monday, causing a collision.
Foster J. Brooks, 41, told Portland Police he looked north and south before backing out of his driveway onto Morton Street near Race Street. He told police he didn’t see the southbound 2006 Ford Focus, driven by William A. Montgomery, 79, Portland, on the street. Brooks’ 2013 Chevrolet Sonic struck Montgomery’s vehicle, causing between $2,500 and $5,000 in damage estimated.
Parking crash
Two vehicles collided in a Portland parking lot after a Union City woman backed her car into another vehicle about 3:27 p.m. Monday.
Connie S. St. Myers, 58, Union City, told Portland Police she was backing her 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer out of the shopping center at 597 N. Meridian St. when she collided with a southbound 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Susan J. Confer, 48, Portland.
Damage is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.
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