Capsule Reports - Wednesday, March 5, 2024

Kitchen fire

A Portland household’s kitchen caught on fire Monday morning.

Portland Fire Department responded to a call about a fire at 409 W. Main St. about 8:14 a.m. Monday. Two fire trucks and 16 firefighters arrived on scene, putting out the flames by 8:41 a.m. 

Fire damage was mostly contained to the kitchen, with the flames snaking up along the west side of the home through a window. There was some water damage in the area as well as smoke damage throughout the house.

Homeowners Christopher and Jennifer Nibarger had four dogs and four cats die from the accident.

Ambulance accident

A Jay Emergency Medical Service ambulance struck a Redkey man’s car and injured one passenger on Indiana 67 about 3:44 p.m. Sunday.

Tony A. Dalrymple, 50, Portland, was driving a 2019 Ford E-450 ambulance southwest on the highway with the emergency lights and sirens on. Alexis A. Herman, 18, slowed her 2006 Ford Fusion to let the ambulance pass her. The ambulance’s box collided with the driver’s side of Herman’s vehicle, causing Herman’s car to go through a fence on the west side of the road and stop in a ditch.

Elijah B. MCNeil, 22, Indianapolis, a passenger in Herman’s vehicle, was trapped in the vehicle and sustained a lower leg injury. Herman was cited for driving without insurance.

Both vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.

Intersection crash

A Portland man crashed his car into a Geneva man’s vehicle, causing a chain reaction and hitting two other cars along Third Street in Portland about 5 p.m. Sunday.

Oscar J. Hernandez, 44, was driving his 2007 Ford Edge west on the road and crossed its intersection with Meridian Street. That’s when he struck a 2010 Dodge Challenger driven by 23-year-old Melvin Mendez — Mendez told police he was attempting to turn north onto Meridian Street — and subsequently slammed into a parked 2004 Ford F-150. The momentum from the crash caused the Ford F-150 registered to Pedro S. Vargas of Portland to strike a parked 2014 Chevrolet Spark in front of it.

Mendez’s car is registered to Carmen A. Garcia of Portland. Both Hernandez and Mendez’s vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.

Voting is open

Voting for the Indiana Transportation Innovators People’s Choice Award is open.

The award is a partnership between Indiana Department of Transportation and Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program to highlight innovations in transportation. It is focused on improving safety, efficiency, quality, accuracy and streamlining transportation operations.

To vote, visit bit.ly/ITIPeoplesChoice2024. The deadline is March 12.