Capsule Reports - Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024

Abandoned scene

A truck driver abandoned the vehicle they were driving after it crashed along county road 600 South about 9:35 p.m. Sept. 25.

Police found a 2002 Ford F-150 rolled on its passenger side just south of county road 600 South, near its intersection with county road 1225 West. According to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report, the vehicle was going west on county road 600 South at a high rate of speed when the driver left the north side of the road, causing the brakes to lock up while overcorrecting their vehicle. The truck went into the opposite lane of traffic and spun before rolling onto its side, the report says.

Police observed alcoholic beverage cans and the smell of alcohol coming from inside the cab, along with the ignition keys left inside the truck. The witness told police a man with a bright orange shirt left the vehicle after the crash and fled the scene.

The truck is registered to Kimberley J. Cox Brown of Eaton. Documents belonging to Ryan Hartzell were also found inside the cab, according to the report.

The vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.

House hit

A Portland man drove into a house along Arch Street about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Sergio Ortiz, 29, was driving a 2008 Pontiac G6 south at the intersection of Arch and Williams streets when he attempted to turn. He failed to turn and crashed into the home at 823 W. Arch St.

Ortiz sustained minor bleeding on his head. The vehicle he was driving — it’s registered to Salvadora Del Rosario of Portland — was towed. Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Lost control

A Tennessee man lost control of the semi truck he was driving at the intersection of Indiana 67 and Indiana 26, causing an accident about 5:19 a.m. Friday.

Gregory D. Wallace, 66, Doyle, was driving a 1997 Freightliner east on the Indiana 26 when he drove up to its intersection with Indiana 67. He told police he wasn’t able to stop, causing the semi to go into a field southeast of Indiana 67.

The semi is registered to TQ Trucking of Hartford City. It was towed, with damage estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.

Drunk driving

A Portland woman was arrested for drunk driving after she allegedly drove off county road 550 South and crashed into a pole about 10:57 p.m. Friday.

Julie E. Smith, 38, was driving her 2013 Chevrolet Cruze east on the road in Jay County when her vehicle left the road and hit a utility pole, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. Smith was given a blood alcohol test with results pending.

She was arrested and preliminarily charged with a Class C misdemeanor for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Smith was being held in Jay County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Her vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $25,000 and $50,000.

Hit tree

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000 after a Dunkirk woman drove off the side of county road 200 South and into a tree about 5:49 p.m. Friday.

Taylor L. Baker, 27, was driving her 2020 Nissan Versa west on the road near Indiana 1 when she drove off the north side of the road, causing her car to go into a ditch. She continued driving west through the ditch until her vehicle crashed into a tree.

Baker complained of head pain. Her vehicle was towed.

Left the scene

A driver left the scene after crashing into a mailbox and ramp at a Portland home about 8:43 a.m. Sept. 20.

According to a Portland police report, a 2007 Ford Edge was turning north from Middle Street to Water Street when the driver failed to straighten out the vehicle, causing it to leave the road and hit a mailbox and railing along a ramp at 119 S. Meridian St. The driver and vehicle then left the scene without calling police. A witness called police after the crash.

The Ford Edge was found at 310 S. Meridian St. The owner of the vehicle, Emilio Rosas of Portland, visited Portland Police Department to inform police he allowed someone else, “Alfredo,” to use his vehicle. As of press time, the driver had not been located.

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

Couldn't see

An Albany woman drove into a Portland man’s car at the intersection of county roads 350 North and 1150 West about 4:03 p.m. Thursday.

Elizabeth J. Ulrey, 50, was driving her 2000 Buick LeSabre north on county road 1150 West when she stopped at the intersection. She told police she couldn’t see oncoming traffic because of the corn field obstructing her view. She continued into the intersection and crashed into an eastbound 2022 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 46-year-old Jason N. Batron.

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

Crashed into pole

A Lynn man lost control of his truck and hit a pole along county road 450 South about 9:50 a.m. Sunday.

Carl E. Wert, 65, was driving his 2014 Ford F-150 west on county road 450 South near county road 100 West when he drove off the road and into a pole.

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.

Intersection crash

A Redkey woman drove into oncoming traffic at the intersection of Tyson Road and Indiana 67, causing an accident about 10:54 a.m. Monday.

Jenna G. Pitman, 24, was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox west on Tyson Road when she stopped at its intersection with Indiana 67. She told police she didn’t see the southbound 2015 Ford F-150 driven by 74-year-old Glenn C. Nicodemus of Portland in the road, and she continued into the intersection. Pitman crashed into Nicodemus’ vehicle, causing it to spin into a ditch on the west side of the highway, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report.

Both vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $10,000 and $25,000. The Chevrolet Equinox is registered to Hugh F. Kelly of Portland.

Vehicles collided

A Portland woman crashed her car into another Portland woman’s vehicle at the intersection of Meridian and Lincoln streets in Portland about 6:17 a.m. Monday.

Elizabeth A. Pieterse, 59, was driving her 2019 Toyota Tundra south on Meridian Street when she attempted to turn onto Lincoln Street. She struck an eastbound 2017 Chevrolet Trax driven by 25-year-old Valerie Jutte.

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

Didn’t see

A Portland man drove into the path of oncoming traffic at the intersection of Meridian and Main streets, causing an accident about 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Ryan A. Blount, 52, Portland, was driving a 2011 Buick Enclave west on Main Street. He told police he stopped at its intersection with Meridian Street and didn’t see oncoming traffic, so he continued west. He drove into the path of a southbound 2015 Chrysler 200 driven by 30-year-old Shawn M. Homan of Portland. Homan told police he didn’t have time to stop, and his vehicle struck the vehicle Blount was driving, causing it to spin. 

Both vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.