Capsule Report - Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025

Backing accident

A Portland man driving a county vehicle backed into another Portland man’s truck about 2:55 p.m. Sept. 23.

Daniel D. Lemaster, 77, was backing a 2019 Ford E350 out of the driveway at 106 Rayburn Drive, Portland, when he hit a parked 1993 Ford E-350. The parked truck is registered to 56-year-old Donald G. Schlosser, and the vehicle Lemaster was driving is registered to Jay County Commissioners (it’s used by Lifestream Services).

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

Passing crash

Two Portland residents were transferred to a Fort Wayne hospital after the van they were riding in went off the road and hit a road sign along U.S 27 about 7:45 a.m. Sunday.

Valvina G. Gutierrez, 57, was driving a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan north on the highway near county road 400 North when she began to pass a semi truck in front of her. She told police she lost control of her van, causing it to leave the road and go into a ditch, hitting a road sign in the process.

Two passengers in the van, 27-year-old Lorena L. Gutierrez of Portland and 30-year-old Juan M. Trujillo of Portland, were injured. Lorena Gutierrez complained of pain all over her body, and Trujillo sustained a head injury and was unconscious. Both passengers were taken to Fort Wayne for medical treatment.

The van was towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Lost control

A Bryant man was injured after crashing his motorcycle along county road 650 North about 8:37 p.m. Saturday.

Adam J. Hartvig, 41, was driving his 2008 Harley Davidson Night Train west on the road near its intersection with county road 650 West when his motorcycle began to wobble. Hartvig went off the north side of the road, where he was thrown from the vehicle.

He sustained internal abdominal injuries. His motorcycle was towed, with damage estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

Flipped vehicle

A Fort Recovery woman flipped the all-terrain vehicle she was driving along county road 550 South about 5 p.m. Sunday.

Alexis D. Gahret, 31, was driving a 2023 Polaris UV east on the road near its intersection with county road 850 East when she began to turn around. She told police she had been going too fast on the stone road, causing the vehicle to flip onto its passenger side.

Gahret sustained a minor head injury. Passenger Marayah A. Gahret, 13, Fort Recovery, complained of leg pain, and Passenger Zahavah M. Steinbrunner, 13, Fort Recovery, complained of head pain. Damage is estimated between $2,500 and $5,000.