By SGT. CHAD HILL
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department

A Syracuse man was critically injured Wednesday evening after his motorcycle crashed into a vehicle pulling a trailer in northern Kosciusko County.

At approximately 6:35 p.m., the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and emergency personnel responded to a 9-1-1 report of a motor vehicle crash in the area of the South Shore Golf Course, along SR 13, south of Syracuse.

A Syracuse man is in critical condition tonight following an accident on SR 13 south of Syracuse. (Photo by KCSD)

Officers arrived and initially determined that a 2010 Ford F-250 pickup truck, operated by Michael Gunderson, 26, Milford, had stopped in the southbound lane of SR 13 due to other vehicular traffic. Gunderson stated that suddenly the trailer that he had been pulling behind his pickup truck was struck by a southbound motorcycle.

Sheriff deputies determined the identity of the motorcycle as Daniel List, 56, Syracuse. List had been operating a 2007 Harley Davidson with no other passengers.

The crash was witnessed by a Syracuse/Turkey Creek Township EMS/ambulance crew who immediately began to administer emergency aid to List. Medics immediately requested a scene airlift, at which point List was transported from the scene by the Lutheran Air Ambulance to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.

List is currently listed in critical condition due to severe head injury from the crash.

The Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. Team stated that the crash is still currently under investigation due to pending toxicology results of the drivers as required by state law. List was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash according to investigating officers.

Gunderson was not injured during the crash, nor was his passenger.

The Kosciusko County F.A.C.T./crash investigation team was assisted in the investigation by the Syracuse/Turkey Creek E.M.S. & Fire Department, Syracuse Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.