Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 - Capsule reports

Fell asleep

A Michigan man fell asleep at the wheel while driving along U.S. 27 in Jay County, causing him to crash into two other drivers about 3 p.m. Jan. 22.

Steven F. Chapman, 67, Harrison, Michigan, told police he was driving his 2003 Dodge Dakota pickup truck south on the highway when he dozed off, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. Chapman drove across the center line and hit the back of a northbound 2015 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 68-year-old Ronald E. Manns of Akron. Chapman also struck the front of a northbound 2019 Ford Explorer driven by 55-year-old Diana R. Nickol of Dunkirk.

Chapman continued into a ditch, stopping in a yard at 1295 N. U.S. 27, where the vehicle caught fire. Chapman was safely extracted from the car, and the fire was extinguished by Portland Fire Department.

Nickol’s vehicle stopped on the east side of the road. She complained of pain all over her body and was transported to a hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Chapman sustained a leg injury.

Chapman and Nickol’s vehicles were towed. Damage is estimated between $25,000 and $50,000.

Wrong lane

A Muncie police officer was injured after a Redkey man drove into the wrong lane of traffic on Indiana 67 about 4:48 p.m. Jan. 22.

Blake A. Jester, 39, was driving his 2004 Acura RSX northeast on the highway when he looked down at something in his car, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. When Jester looked back at the road, he realized he was in the wrong lane. He wasn’t able to react before colliding with a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 55-year-old Randall S. Critzman of Muncie. Jester wasn’t able to control his vehicle and also struck a 2017 Ford Explorer driven by 28-year-old Richard J. Guinn of Muncie. The car Guinn was driving rolled off the road.

Guinn complained of back pain and was transported to IU Heath Ball.

Jester was cited with an infraction for driving on the wrong side of the road.

The vehicle Critzman was driving is registered to Clarian Health Partners of Indianapolis, and the vehicle Guinn was driving is registered to Muncie Police Department. All three vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $25,000 and $50,000.

Icy patch

Two Indiana residents hit trees after losing control of their vehicles in Jay County on Jan. 23.

Sara J. Romine, 38, Portland, was driving her 2013 Lincoln MKX east on Como Road near its intersection with Division Road when she drove across ice on the road, causing her vehicle to slide and hit a tree. Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000, and her car was towed.

Joseph T. Swartzentruber, 24, Decatur, was driving his 2018 Chevrolet Silverado with two other passengers along county road 400 North about 8:36 a.m. Jan. 23 when he drove across a patch of ice on the road. Swartzentruber lost traction and went into the ditch on the north side of the road, striking a tree in the process. His truck was towed. Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.

Lost control

Two drivers traveling through rural Jay County lost control of their vehicles, causing them to drive off county road 400 South about 7:20 a.m. Jan. 23.

Calvin J. Wyatt, 30, Hartford City, was driving his 2000 Mercury Cougar behind Heaven A. Fair, 27, Rockville, who was driving a 1994 Chevrolet Astro Van. Wyatt attempted to pass Fair, but he lost control of his car and went off the south side of the road. Fair told Jay County Sheriff’s Office she panicked after seeing Wyatt attempt to pass her, and she also went off the south side of the road. Their vehicles didn’t collide, but Wyatt hit a road sign, and Fair went into a ditch.

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000. Fair’s vehicle was towed.

Off road

A Dunkirk woman lost control of the vehicle she was driving along county road 200 South, causing her to drive into a ditch and field about 5:53 p.m. Sunday.

Tonya R. Davis, 45, was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu east when she went off the south side of the road, causing her to lose control of the car and go into a ditch. The vehicle she was driving stopped in a field south of the road, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report.

Davis was cited with an infraction for driving with a suspended license. Davis’ passenger, 35-year-old Charles H. Harvey Jr. of Greencastle, complained of back pain. The vehicle Davis was driving — it was towed — is registered to Brooke A. Bennett of Rockville.