UPDATE: Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies and emergency personnel responded today at approximately 11:02 a.m. to the location of the Creighton Brothers Processing Plant, 6500 W. Crystal Lake Rd., Warsaw, in regards to a forklift accident.

Officers were initially advised that an employee was pinned underneath a forklift near the loading-dock portion of the business. Mentone and Multi-Township E.M.S. arrived at the scene and located the victim, Arnold Shepherd, 52, of Warsaw, who had a visible open compound fracture and injury to both legs. Shepherd was immediately transported to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, in serious condition.

K.C.S.D. officials stated that a preliminary investigation has determined that a semi-tractor/trailer had initially backed into the loading dock area at the Creighton Brother Processing Plant, driven by Robert Carpenter, Texas. Carpenter purportedly noticed that he had backed his trailer into the loading dock at an slight angle, and proceeded to pull forward in an attempt to straighten the vehicle. At apparently the same time, Arnold Shepherd had begun to drive forward and into the enclosed semi-trailer unit with a forklift. During the course of movements, the forklift fell from the open-end of the trailer. Shepherd was subsequently ejected from the forklift and pinned underneath the 2,000 lb. unit.

The Atwood Fire Department was initially dispatched to the scene, as was a medical helicopter, but were both later disregarded as Shepherd was extricated by scene personnel.

Though the weight involved in the forklift/incident was initially reported by officials to weigh 10,000 pounds, a media release from Creighton Brothers, Inc. indicates the weight was 2,000 pounds. 

Initial Report: Medics are transporting a 51-year-old individual to Lutheran Hospital following an industrial accident at 6500 W. Crystal Lake Road.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department is at the scene and is investigating the accident and will release information later today.

Atwood Fire Department and emergency personnel were called at 11:10 a.m. to Crystal Lakes, 6500 W Crystal Lake Road, where a man had been injured in a forklift accident. The reported 5-ton forklift had 10,000 pounds of product on it when it reportedly fell on the individual’s leg.