October 13, 2013
10/14/13 On Tuesday, October 8th at approximately 10:00 a.m. Indiana State Police Trooper Mike Gruett responded to a two vehicle accident on Michigan Road near the intersection of 14th Road north of Argos.
Arriving on the scene it was learned that a Marshall County Highway Department pickup truck was traveling northbound on Michigan Road at 10 M.P.H. with yellow warning lights flashing and a sign indicating “Wet Paint”. The Marshall County Highway pickup truck was driven by 73 year old Robert L. Nifong of Walkerton and he was following a paint stripping machine painting the white fog line on Michigan Road. The passenger in the pickup truck, 57 year old Richard Wallace of Plymouth was sitting on the tailgate placing orange traffic cones over the wet paint.
44 year old Bonnie S. Jones of Plymouth was traveling northbound on Michigan Road at approximately 55 M.P.H. She told Trooper Gruett she was distracted reading a text message on her phone and did not see the highway truck in the road. Jones rear-end of the truck causing extensive damage to both vehicles. The passenger on the bed of the truck, Richard Wallace was able to roll out of the truck just prior to the collision.
Jones submitted to a urine and blood draw at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth and tested positive for cannabinoids. A report was forwarded to the Marshall Prosecutors Office for review.
Richard Wallace was transported to Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center minor for injuries sustained from the crash.
Assisting at the scene were officers with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Argos Police Department, Plymouth Fire and EMS and Lyons Towing Service.