A Marshall Starke Development Center van with clients in it was involved in an automobile accident Friday evening at 9:47 in Warsaw. The crash ended up sending five people, including both drivers to Kosciusko Community Hospital. The accident occurred at the intersection of North Detroit Street and the ramp with US 30.
The Marshall Starke Development Center van with five individuals had just left a concert at Central Park and was heading to Plymouth.
27 year old Eric L. Rodriguez of Silver Lake, one of the drivers, failed to stop for a red light and slammed into the van that was just entering the intersection. Rodriquez suffered a head injury in the accident and was cited for refusing to submit to a portable breath test or chemical test following the accident.
31 year old Penny Paul of 2B Road in Bremen was the front seat passenger in the Marshall Starke van. She was taken to the hospital for immediate medical attention, suffering a laceration to her head. The police report indicated that she may have possibly been ejected through the front windshield of the vehicle.
Also injured in the crash was the Marshall Starke van driver, Ashley N. Tinman, 25 from Knox. She complained of pain to the chest. Others slightly injured in the van were: 62 year old Donald E. Rininger and 60 year old Susan I. Rininger of Plymouth. The fourth person, 48 year old Tod L. Rininger also of Plymouth, was not injured.
The Warsaw police report states that Rodriguez only remembered the sun going down, denying he was in an accident and driving a vehicle.
Witnesses, told police Rodriguez vehicle ran the red light, hitting the Marshall Starke vehicle. The Rodriguez vehicle then traveled down into the ditch. Rodriguez crawled out of his vehicle and took off across Detroit Street. He was detained by police. He refused to submit to a breathalyzer.
InkFree assisted with this news story.
