PRESS RELEASE FROM 1ST SGT. CHAD HILL, KCSD PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER –
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies investigated a two vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon. The accident occurred at approximately 2:56 p.m. at the intersection of County Roads 700 North & 200 East, near Leesburg, Indiana. Emergency personnel arrived and extracted five individuals from two separate vehicles. Two of those victims, Benito Lozano, 34, Aurora, Illinois, and Josh Loetz, 18, Cromwell, were both transported from the scene in critical condition with head injuries. Lozano was airlifted by Lutheran Air.
Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. team members stated that a preliminary investigation of the crash has determined that a white, 1998 Ford Econoline van, driven by Quinn S. Crough, 20, Milford, was westbound on County Road 700 North, approaching the intersection of County Road 200 East, when he attempted to pass a vehicle in a no passing zone as it was slowing directly in front of him.
Officers stated that a blue, 2013 Ford Focus, driven by Lozano, attempted to cross the intersection northbound on County Road 200 East at the same time, but was impacted on the passenger’s side by Crough’s van. Also injured inside the Crough van included Mathes Torres Amado, 19, Syracuse, and Matthew G. Hamman, 21, Leesburg. Crough, Amado, and Hamman were all taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for non-life threatening injuries, and reportedly in stable condition.
The crash is still under investigation at this time according to Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. team reconstructionists. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted today by members of the Atwood/Prairie Township Fire Department, Leesburg/Plain Township Fire Department, Warsaw Wayne Township Fire Territory, and Lutheran Kosciusko E.M.S.
