Tuesday, April 16, 2024 - Capsule report

Distracted driving

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000 after a Pennville man drove off county road 700 East and into a scrap yard about 4:52 a.m. Friday.

Nathaniel D. Paxson, 19, was driving his 2003 GMC Sierra north on the road just south of county road 300 South. He told police he was texting and drove off the east side of the road, causing him to enter a yard and hit several scrapped vehicles.

Paxson’s vehicle was towed.

Intersection crash

A Portland man drove in front of oncoming traffic, causing a collision at the intersection of Meridian and Arch streets in Portland about 9:28 p.m. Saturday.

John L. Cook, 47, was driving his 2011 Dodge Ram west on Arch Street. He told police he didn’t see the 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle, driven by 35-year-old Steven Redford, driving south on Meridian Street. Cook entered the intersection as Redford was driving through it, causing Redford to strike Cook’s vehicle. (Traffic on Meridian Street doesn’t stop at the intersection.)

Damage is estimated between $1,000 and $2,500.

The motorcycle Redford was driving is registered to Teddy J. Bessesen of Pennville.