UPDATE: Fatal Accident In North Webster
UPDATE: A Pennsylvania man was killed and his wife remains in critical condition today after a fiery crash in North Webster Sunday afternoon.
Emergency personnel were notified at 3:21 p.m. of the crash located near the intersection of Esterbrook Drive and SR 13, North Webster. Off-duty Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Sheriff Shawn Castillo placed the call and arrived shortly after the impact between a pickup truck and a minivan.
Kosciusko County Coroner Michael Wilson was summoned to the scene and pronounced Jeremy Valentine, 39, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, deceased from blunt force trauma.
Kosciusko County F.A.C.T./team members completed a preliminary investigation and determined that a red, Ford F-250 pickup truck, driven by Matthew Wagoner, 29, of Syracuse, was northbound on SR 13 and crossed the center line. Wagoner’s vehicle struck the southbound 2012 Mazda 5 minivan, driven by Jeremy Valentine. Valentine was killed upon impact.
Wagoner’s vehicle had a diesel fuel tank that caught fire and was extinguished by several area fire departments.
Wagoner’s vehicle contained juvenile passengers who were identified as Tyson Wagoner, 2, and Matthew C. Wagoner, 5. All three were taken to Parkview Regional Medical Center, with Matthew C. Wagoner being classified in critical condition, according to a F.A.C.T. press release.
Passengers in the Valentine vehicle included Seana Valentine, 38, who is classified as very critical; Molly Valentine, 9; and Luke Valentine, 7. All surviving Valentine family members were transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. Multiple helicopters were deployed from both Parkview Samaritan and Lutheran Air due to the numerous victims.
The Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. Team and the North Webster Police Department were assisted at the scene by the Syracuse Police Department, North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Fire Department and EMS, Leesburg Fire Department, Syracuse/Turkey Creek Fire Department and E.M.S., Multi-Township EMS, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Management.
The crash is still currently under investigation pending legal alcohol and drug results of drivers.
BREAKING: A severe automobile accident at approximately 3:21 p.m. on SR 13 in North Webster has claimed the life of one male victim and left six others injured.
The accident occurred in front of Maria’s House of Pancakes where a pickup truck and a mini van collided head on. The truck burst into flames and had both staff and customers of the restaurant trying to put out the blaze with fire extinguishers until firefighters from North Webster, Leesburg, Syracuse and Warsaw arrived on scene.
According to police on scene, the driver of the mini van was killed upon impact. A female passenger in the van and two children in the back seat were seriously injured. Two Samaritan air ambulances landed at North Webster Elementary School to transport victims.
Multi-Township EMS, North Webster EMS and Syracuse/Turkey Creek EMS and the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office also assisted on scene. Two passengers in the pickup truck were said to be ground transported to an area hospital.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, North Webster Police officers and Syracuse Police officers were investigating. Rick Shepherd of the KCSD and of the Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, said additional information will be released upon notification of family members.
KCSD is asking everyone to avoid SR 13 from Backwater Road to north of the North Webster American Legion until further notice.