Capsule Reports - Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Intersection collision

Two Winchester residents were transported to the hospital after a vehicle collision at the intersection of Bryant Pike and U.S. 27 about noon Sunday.

Leland B. Turpin, 50, Portland, was driving his 2009 Dodge Ram north on the highway when he looked away from the road to check his phone for directions to turn off onto Bryant Pike. At the same time, Mendy R. Beam, 48, was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Impala south on the highway. When Turpin looked back at the road, he realized his vehicle was in the opposite lane of traffic in Beam’s path. Beam wasn’t able to avoid crashing into Turpin’s vehicle.

Beam complained of chest pain. Her passenger, 51-year-old Kristina Dixon, also complained of chest pain.

Both vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $25,000 and $50,000.

Failed to yield

A Selma teen failed to yield to oncoming traffic at the intersection of Indiana 67 and Indiana 1 in Redkey, causing an accident about 8:22 p.m. Friday.

Derick L. Myers, 17, was driving a 1987 Chevrolet Blazer south on Indiana 1. He stopped at its intersection of Indiana 67, and he told police he didn’t see traffic coming from either direction and pulled into the intersection. (He also told police he thought the intersection was a four-way stop.) Myers continued into the path of an eastbound 2020 Nissan Frontier driven by 69-year-old David M. Stoner of Portland. Stoner wasn’t able to avoid hitting the car Myers was driving, striking the passenger side fender.

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

Fell asleep

A Union City man fell asleep at the wheel while driving along Meridian Street in Portland, causing him to go off the road and hit a mailbox and fire hydrant about 3:23 a.m. Monday.

Andrew E. Orsonio-Machuca, 19, was driving his 2015 Chrysler 200 north on Meridian Street when he fell asleep. His car went off the road at 703 S. Meridian St., hitting a mailbox at the address and a fire hydrant.

Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000. His vehicle was towed.

Turning accident

A Montpelier woman turned her car into oncoming traffic, leading to a crash at the intersection of Indiana 67 and Indiana 26 about 8:28 a.m. Monday.

Kimberly A. Yencer, 46, was driving her 2010 Ford Fusion south on Indiana 26 and stopped at its intersection with Indiana 67. She continued into the intersection to turn east onto Indiana 67. At the same time, Kevin D. Huffman, 63, Geneva, was driving his 2025 Land Rover Defender south on the highway. Yencer turned into the path of Huffman’s vehicle, and Huffman’s car struck Yencer’s vehicle. 

Both vehicles were towed, with damage estimated between $25,000 and $50,000.

Bucket tangled

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000 after the bucket on an Ohio worker’s truck got caught in phone lines along U.S. 27 in Portland about 7:45 a.m. Friday.

Durbin Yoel Sean Matos, 34, Middletown, was driving a 2021 Ford F-750 and leaving the parking lot at 1411 N. U.S. 27. He told police he forgot to lower the bucket on the truck, and as he was leaving, the top of the truck caught in the overhead phone lines above the driveway. He began turning south onto the highway, and the lines pulled the truck over onto its driver’s side.

The truck is registered to Asplundh Tree Expert of Fort Wayne.