(Photo by Chelsea Los)
SYRACUSE — Christopher Longenbaugh and his brother, Curtis Logenbaugh, both 33, North Main Street, Syracuse, were flown by Samaritan Air Ambulance to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, with minor bleeding to the head, following a one-vehicle accident on North Kern Road, north of East Duffy Drive, Syracuse. The accident occurred around 9:58 p.m.
Police report Christopher Longenbaugh was northbound on Kern Road in his 1996 Chevrolet truck. He stated a deer ran into the path of his vehicle and he swerved to miss the deer. Because the driver’s door of his truck did not latch securely, when he served, he was thrown from the vehicle, hitting the pavement. Longenbaugh watched his truck go off the road, through a yard, hitting a chain link fence. The vehicle continued northbound across a private driveway and hit a second chain link fence before hitting a large tree, head on, at the residence of Elaine M. Spaulding.
Chistopher Longenbaugh’s brother, Curtis, was in the passenger side of the vehicle and was extricated from the vehicle by Turkey Creek Fire Territory.
Police detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage, while speaking to Christopher Longenbaugh. He admitted to drinking approximately six beers at two different bars. A portable breathalyzer resulted in a .158 test. Christopher Longenbaugh also consented to take a certified blood draw at the hospital. The results are not available.
Damage to the Spaulding’s property and Longenbaugh’s truck was estimated up to $25,000.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, North Webster EMS, Milford Fire and North Webster Fire assisted at the scene of the crash.