One of two vehicles involved in the accident. (Photo by Deb Patterson)
Five persons, including both drivers, were transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital following a two-vehicle accident at North Detroit Street at the ramp to US 30, Warsaw. One individual was cited for refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test.
The accident, at 9:47 p.m. Friday, involved a van with five individuals who had just left the Kansas concert at Central Park and were heading to Plymouth.
Eric L. Rodriguez, 27, West Coy Avenue, Silver Lake, one of the drivers, suffered a head injury. He was also cited for refusing to submit to a portable breath test or chemical test following the accident.
Penny Paul, 31, B Road, Bremen, a front seat passenger in the second vehicle, was taken to the hospital for immediate medical attention, suffering a laceration to her head and had possibly been ejected through the front windshield of the vehicle.
Also injured was Ashley N. Tinman, 25, South Union Street, Knox, driver of the second vehicle, who complained of pain to the chest. Others injured were two passengers in Tinman’s vehicle: Donald E. Rininger, 62, West Garro Street, Plymouth, complaining of pain to the knee/lower leg area; and Susan I. Rininger, 60, West Garro Stret, Plymouth, complaining of pain to the hip/upper leg area. A fourth passenger, Tod L. Rininger, 48, West Garro Street, Plymouth, was not injured.
Warsaw Police report Rodriguez only remembered the sun going down, denying he was in an accident and driving a vehicle.
Tinman told police she was northbound on Detroit Street, attempting to travel westbound on Lake City Highway. She reported the traffic light was green but does not remember anything further. She was driving a white 2008 Chevrolet registered to Marshall Starke Development, Plymouth.
Witnesses, who were behind Tinman’s vehicle on the off ramp of Lake City Highway onto Detroit Street, were able to tell police Tinman started into the intersection when the southbound Rodriguez vehicle ran the red light, hitting the Tinman vehicle. The Rodriguez vehicle then traveled down into the ditch. One witness told police Rodriguez was momentarily unconscious but was able to crawl out of the vehicle, falling into the water, and then taking off across Detroit Street. He was detained by police for his safety.
Rodriguez was driving a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer.
Damage was estimated up to $25,000.