Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 - Capsule reports

Pole hit

A Ridgeville man lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a utility pole in Portland about 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Shawn D. Staver, 21, was driving his 2004 Pontiac Vibe west on Lafayette Street when he lost traction on a patch of ice. His car slid into a pole registered to Indiana Michigan Power.

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

Sign struck

A Portland man swerved off Indiana 67 and hit a road sign about 6:15 p.m. Monday.

Anthony Owens, 31, was driving a 2018 Dodge Durango west on the highway. He told police he attempted to pass multiple vehicles and had to swerve off the road to avoid a collision with oncoming traffic. His vehicle went into a ditch on the side of the road, and the driver’s side of his vehicle struck a sign. 

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

Lost control

A Redkey teen crashed the car she was driving along Indiana 1 after losing control about 10:45 p.m. Monday.

Gracie Wilburn, 17, was driving a 2013 Hyundai Elantra south on the highway when she lost control. She told police she went off the road, driving into a ditch and striking a telephone pole.

The pole is registered to American Electric Power. The vehicle Wilburn was driving was towed, with damage estimated between $10,000 and $25,000.

Tree hit

A Ridgeville woman’s car left U.S. 27 and struck a tree about 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Hannah M. Patterson, 35, was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer north on the highway when her car left the road and went into a ditch east of the highway. The car began sliding sideways before hitting a tree in the yard at 7631 S. U.S. 27, Portland. The tree uprooted as a result of the impact. 

According to data from the county’s geographic information system, the property is owned by Link James David and Sarah Ewing. Patterson’s vehicle was towed, with damage estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.