Capsule Report - Friday, Sept. 19, 2025

Intersection crash

Damage is estimated between $5,000 and $10,000 after a Portland man drove into oncoming traffic at the intersection of Arch and Meridian streets, causing an accident about 2:30 p.m. Sept. 10.

John Rigby, 69, was driving his 2005 Buick LeSabre west on Arch Street and approached its intersection with Meridian Street. He told police he didn’t see the southbound 2014 Chrysler 300 driven by Joshua McCoun, 35, of Hartford City, and entered the intersection. He also told police he believed his car’s axle broke, and he wasn’t able to stop before crashing into McCoun’s vehicle.

Rigby’s vehicle was towed.

Driver charged

A Pennville man is accused of drunk driving after crashing his car along county road 500 North about 7:48 p.m. Tuesday.

Jerry L. Clark, 72, was driving his 1995 Ford F-250 east on county road 500 North when he began turning south onto River Road. He told police a northbound vehicle — he later said it was an all-terrain vehicle — making the turn east onto 500 North nearly crashed into him, and he had to drive off the road to avoid a collision. His car went into a ditch, struck a stop sign and hit a utility pole registered to Jay County REMC. Clark said the other vehicle didn’t stop.

Clark was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, and operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.15% or more, a Class A misdemeanor. He was being held on a $1,500 bond in Jay County Jail.

Clark sustained minor facial injuries and refused treatment on scene.

The stop sign was replaced by Jay County Highway Department.

Miscommunication

Two teenagers struck one another’s vehicles after a miscommunication in Jay County Junior-Senior High School parking lot about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Jordan R. Russell, 17, Pennville, was driving a 2002 Ford F-150 south in the parking lot at 2072 W. Indiana 67 when he waved at a friend. At the same time, 16-year-old Adria M. Roessner of Portland was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze south in the parking lot and saw Russell wave, assuming he was indicating for her to drive around him. Their vehicles collided, causing between $2,500 and $5,000 in estimated damage.