Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 - Capsule reports

Lost control

Two Indiana residents recently lost control of their vehicles, causing accidents while driving in Jay County.

Ruth E. Paul, 51, Dunkirk, was driving along county road 1150 West near county road 300 South about noon Thursday when she became distracted and missed the curve. Paul drove her 2015 Chevrolet Suburban off the road and into several trees. She and her passengers, 71-year-old Patricia Rawlings of Dunkirk and 29-year-old Samuel Paul of Dunkirk, were taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie for their injuries. Damage is estimated between $25,000 and $50,000.

Preston I. Gordon, 23, Hartford City, was driving northwest on Como Road near county road 900 South about 10 p.m. Saturday when he lost control of his 2001 Dodge Dakota on the curve. Gordon’s vehicle went into the ditch and through a field, causing between $1,000 and $2,500 in estimated damage.

Turning crash

A Centerville man crashed the dump truck he was driving into the back of a Fort Recovery woman’s van at the intersection of Votaw and Charles streets in Portland about 9 a.m. Nov. 30.

Quinten G. Shiverdecker, 29, was driving a 2003 Mack dump truck west on Votaw Street. At the same time, 30-year-old Virginia D. Marchal was driving in front of him and turning south onto Charles Street. Shiverdecker told police he didn’t see Marchal and couldn’t stop before crashing into the back of Marchal’s 2018 Honda Odyssey.

Damage to the van is estimated at about $5,000. The Mack truck is registered to MAC Trucking of Richmond.

Intersection accident

Damage is estimated between $25,000 and $50,000 after two Jay County teenagers got into a car accident at the intersection of Indiana 67 and Tyson Road about 3:40 p.m. Friday.

Keegan A. Cavanaugh, 17, Bryant, was driving north on the highway leaving Jay County Junior-Senior High School. As he entered the intersection with Tyson Road, 17-year-old Austin R. Curtis of Portland was driving his 2016 Jeep Cherokee east on Tyson Road. Curtis’ vehicle struck Cavanaugh’s 2008 GMC Acadia. Both vehicles were towed.

Backing crash

A Ridgeville woman backed her car into a Richmond woman’s vehicle at Portland Veterinary Clinic in Portland about 10:40 a.m. Friday.

Lily A. Bruursema, 82, was backing her 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee out of a parking spot at 1407 W. Votaw St. when she struck a parked 2023 Subaru Crosstrek. The vehicle — it’s owned by 24-year-old Olivia B. Smith — was parked but wasn’t in a parking spot, according to a Portland police report.

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

Overcorrected

A Washington woman drove off county road 800 South and overcorrected, causing her to lose control of her vehicle about 2:15 p.m. Thursday. 

Carie J. Hammons, 37, was driving her 2000 Dodge Durango west when she drove off the north side of the road. She attempted to swerve back on the road and overcorrected, causing her to drive across the road and into a ditch along the side of 800 South. Her car rolled before coming to a rest on its top.

She was cited with an infraction for driving while her license was suspended and another infraction for driving without proof of registration.

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000. Her car was towed.