NAPPANEE — An Etna Green couple was among nine individuals injured in a two-vehicle accident in Elkhart County Sunday evening, Sept. 13. The accident was on SR 19, south of CR 28, just north of Nappanee.
Omar Kauffman, 61, and Ruth Kauffman, 60, both of Etna Green, were transported to an area hospital. Omar Kauffman complained of pain to the abdomen, left shoulder and neck. Ruth Kauffman complained of pain to both knees. They were among six passengers in a van driven by Jason Kaufman, 31, Mishawaka.
Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department reports Alyssa Stager, 16, Mishawaka, was eastbound on CR 28, at SR 19, when she failed to yield the right of way to the passenger van driven by Kaufman. The vehicles collided in the middle of the intersection.
Stager complained of pain to the neck and head. A passenger in her vehicle, Kennedy Mammolenti, 18, Mishawaka, complained of pain to the left hip and forehead. They were transported to Elkhart General Hospital.
Jason Kaufman complained of pain to the chest, back and knees. Additional injured passengers in his vehicle were: Jeremiah Kaufman, 19, Bremen, complaining of pain to the neck and jaw; Mary Kramer, 85, Bremen, complaining of pain to the hips, knees and right arm; Samuel Kaufman, 68, Bremen, complaining of pain to the right elbow and forearm; and Emery Kaufman, 62, Bremen, complaining of pain to the left side of the ribs. These individuals were transported to Elkhart General and IU Goshen Health.
Police report the passengers in Jason Kaufman’s vehicle were all cited for seat belt violations. Stager was cited for failure to yield the right of way at an intersection.