POLICE NEWS FOR OCT. 19, 2014

Oct. 19--An Elkhart man sustained severe head and back injuries in an early morning crash Saturday on Old U.S. 21, east of C.R. 1 in Elkhart County.

At about 2:48 a.m. Saturday, Charles Treacher, 23, was traveling eastbound on Old U.S. 20, about one mile west of the city limits of Elkhart when he lost control of his 1993 Ford F-150 and ran off the north side of the roadway, according to an Elkhart County crash report.

Treacher's vehicle overturned and crashed into a tree on private property located at 29741 Old U.S. 21. Treacher, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle, according to the report.

He was transported to South Bend Memorial hospital with severe head trauma and back injuries.

An investigation is ongoing through the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department. Alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, the report said.

Teen reaches for cellphone, crashes

A 17-year-old Elkhart man rear-ended another vehicle, creating a chain reaction, at 2:51 p.m. Friday while reaching for his cellphone, police said.

According to an Elkhart County crash report, Austin Maddux of Elkhart was traveling north on C.R. 3 approaching C.R. 10. While reaching for his cellphone, he rear-ended a vehicle driven by Susan Wilson, 46, of Granger. Wilson was stopped in traffic behind Andrea Fernandez, 18, of South Bend, and Nicholas Oxender, 17, of Shipshewana.

Wilson's vehicle struck the back of Ferndandez's vehicle and the force of the crash then pushed her vehicle into Oxender's vehicle.

Fernandez was transported to Elkhart General Hospital by ambulance for complaint of neck pain.

Maddux was issued a citation for unsafe speed, according to the release.

Bicycler struck by mini-van

A Goshen bicycler was injured Tuesday when a mini-van struck him as he was turning onto C.R. 37 north of Millersburg.

Rachael Hays, 32, of LaGrange, was traveling west on C.R. 38 approaching C.R. 37 at about 1:59 p.m. Tuesday, according to an Elkhart County crash report.

Glen Bontrager, 16, of Goshen, was also traveling west on his bicycle. Bontrager started to turn left to travel south on C.R. 37 while Hays was passing him within 100 feet of the intersection on the left side. Hays struck Bontrager as he was turning.

Bontrager was transported to IU Health Goshen Hospital by Goshen EMS for cuts to his head, both hands and abdominal area and possible fractured ribs.

Hays was issued a citation for improper passing, passing within 100 feet of an intersection and not having insurance. The owner of the vehicle Hays was driving was mailed a citation for permitting the operation of the motor vehicle without proof of insurance.

Drug/alcohol arrests

--Jonathan R. Kline, 40, was arrested by Goshen police at about 3:29 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of East Washington Street. Kline, of 1503 S. 14th St., Goshen, was taken to the Elkhart County Jail on charges of resisting law enforcement of fleeing, possession of marijuana and public intoxication.

Theft/burglary reports

--Santa Salazar, Goshen, reported to Goshen police that her son's bicycle was stolen from her fenced-in yard at 1309 W. Wilkinson St. sometime after 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

--Anthony Lamb, Goshen, reported to Goshen police that his maroon 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix was stolen from his driveway at 317 Roxbury Park at about 5:57 p.m. Friday. He also reported he was behind on payments.

--Bristol police responded to a report of a burglary in the 30 block of Shore Manor Drive at about 2:14 a.m. Friday. An investigation is ongoing.

Battery reports

--Goshen officers were dispatched at 11:53 a.m. Friday to the 200 Block of South Main on a call about a fight. Justin Turner, of Elkhart, and Paul Schmidt, of Goshen, both told police they were victims of battery. Both men had cuts and bruises. Schmidt was transported to IU Health Goshen for treatment of a hand injury. He was later released.

--Maria Gutierrez and Margarito Fuentes, both of Goshen, reported to Goshen police that they had been battered by each other at about 4:19 p.m. Friday. Neither had visible signs of injuries and both refused medical treatment. A case report was taken and will be forwarded to the Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office.

Property damage

--Carol Boynton, of Elkhart, reported to Goshen police an unknown vehicle struck her 2014 Toyota passenger car and then fled the scene at about 1:30 p.m. Friday while she was parked at Meijer, 4522 Elkhart Road, Goshen.

--Robert Holcomb, of Goshen, reported to Goshen police that his car was vandalized outside his apartment in the 1100 block of South Ninth Street, sometime during the morning hours on Friday.

--Crystal Reber, of Goshen, reported to Goshen police that the driver's side upper door frame of her 2006 Volkswagon Passat was damaged sometime between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the 1900 block of Lynwood Drive.

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