Capsule Reports - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Airborne vehicle

An Ohio man suffered upper body injuries after his truck left U.S. 27, struck a culvert and went airborne, causing it to roll several times about 1:40 a.m. Sunday.

Jordon C. Vititoe, 25, Greenville was driving his 2005 Dodge Ram north on the highway when he veered off the west side of the road, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report. His vehicle went into a ditch and continued traveling north before hitting a culvert at 8758 S. U.S. 27, Portland. The collision caused his vehicle to go in the air and roll several times.

Vititoe was given a blood alcohol test with results pending. He was transported to Reid Health for his injuries, and his truck was towed.

Turning crash

A Kentucky teen crashed his vehicle into a Decatur woman’s van at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Main Street in Bryant at 12:50 p.m. Saturday.

Brandon M. Rash, 17, Villa Hills, told police he was driving his 2014 Honda Civic north on U.S. 27 when he began to turn west onto Main Street. He said he didn’t see the southbound 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by 52-year-old Jessica M. Lough in front of him. Lough attempted to veer off the west side of the road but wasn’t able to avoid crashing into Rash’s car. Her car also hit a porch post owned by Cherryl Gamble of Bryant.

Lough complained of chest pain. 

Damage is estimated between $10,000 and $25,000, and both vehicles were towed.

Intersection accident

A Portland woman drove into the path of oncoming traffic on Indiana 67, causing a vehicle crash about 8 a.m. Monday.

Marcie R. Burk, 27, was driving her 2013 Chrysler 200 west on county road 200 South when she stopped at its intersection with the highway. She continued into the intersection, according to a Jay County Sheriff’s Office report, and drove into the path of a northeast 2010 Ford Fusion driven by 16-year-old Wyatt C. Foster of rural Redkey. Burk’s vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the car Foster was driving, causing it to spin before stopping in a ditch on the east side of the road.

Foster’s passenger, Parker Moore, 14, rural Redkey, was taken by family to IU Health Jay for a possible arm injury.

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

Attic fire

A Portland man’s attic caught on fire on Saturday.

Portland Fire Department responded to an attic fire at Jerry Stoner’s house, 1237 W. Arch St., at 9:13 a.m. Saturday.

Three firetrucks and 16 firefighters arrived on scene to fight the flames, getting the fire under control within 20 minutes. Damage was contained to the attic area of the home.

Tree hit

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000 after a Dunkirk woman crashed into a fallen tree near the intersection of Division Road and Indiana 167 in Jay County.

Brooke M. Bailey, 42, was driving a 2018 Toyota Sienna west on Division Road. She told police she didn’t see the tree in the road before striking it.