Capsule Reports - Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025

Trailer struck

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000 after a Portland man lost control of his vehicle near Main Street and crashed into a fence and trailer about 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Jacob A. Bowdell, 38, was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Trax west on an alley near Main Street when he began sliding on the road, according to a Portland police report. The vehicle went off the road and struck a fence at 1229 W. Main St. and a trailer at 1231 W. Main St.

The trailer is owned by Danny Stocker.

The vehicle was towed. Bowdell was cited with infractions for driving with a suspended license and for driving at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent for given weather or road conditions.

Rolled car

A Hartford City man rolled the postal service truck he was driving after losing control of it on county road 200 South about noon Sunday.

Samuel T. Edwards, 29, was driving a 1989 Bruggeman LLV west on the road near county road 100 East when he lost control because of icy road conditions, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. The vehicle went off the south side of the road and rolled onto its passenger side.

The vehicle — it’s registered to United States Postal Service of St. Louis, Missouri — was towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Intersection slide

A Portland woman lost control of her car and crashed into another Portland woman’s vehicle at the intersection of North and Hayes streets in Portland about noon Tuesday.

Tona M. Lewis, 59, was driving her 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo east on North Street. At the same time, Paige A. Sholler, 32, was driving her 2015 Kia Optima south on Hayes Street. Lewis told police she slid through the intersection, causing her to crash into Sholler’s vehicle.

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000. Both vehicles were towed.

Vision obstructed

A Portland woman failed to see oncoming traffic at the intersection of Water and Middle streets, causing a vehicle collision about 3:30 p.m. Monday.

 Marilyn S. Laux, 70, was driving a 2021 Honda Passport west on Water Street. At the same time, Franklin L. Hogle, 94, Portland, was driving a 2020 Kia Forte north on Middle Street. Laux told police the sun obstructed her vision and she failed to see the vehicle Hogle was driving. She continued west on the road and crashed into the passenger side of the 2020 Kia Forte. (Traffic on Water Street must stop and yield to oncoming traffic at the intersection.)

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

Fence struck

A Portland man crashed into a fence along county road 600 West about 6:23 a.m. Thursday.

William J. Steed, 22, was driving his 2018 GMC Sierra north on the road near county road 650 South when he drove over snow on the road, causing him to lose traction and drive off the east side of the road. His car hit a fence and became stuck, according to a report from Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.

Couldn’t see

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000 after a Portland man crashed the car was driving into another Portland man’s vehicle along county road 400 North about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Chad A. Lykins, 50, was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Impala east on the road near county road 250 West. He didn’t see the parked 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup along the road in the dark and crashed into the front passenger side. Neither the owner of the vehicle nor recent driver of the vehicle, Jeremy L. Davis and Conner Davis, respectively, were in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Both vehicles were towed.