Milford Residents Involved In Six-Vehicle Crash, Elkhart Man Killed
NEW PARIS — Two Milford residents were among six drivers and a pedestrian involved in an accident at 12:53 p.m. Friday, June 7, on SR 15, south of Ozinga Drive and north of CR 50 in New Paris. An Elkhart motorcyclist was killed in the accident and four persons were injured.
Ricardo Vega, 23, Milford, and Tiffany Brady, 26, Milford, along with two children, were in two of the vehicles involved in the collision. Vega was not injured. Brady complained of neck pain and numbness to the arm. The 1-year-old and 8-year-old in her vehicle were not injured.
Killed in the multi-vehicle crash was Darrell Lemon, 60, Elkhart, who was on a 2014 Harley Davidson. He was not wearing a helmet.
According to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department. Vega was northbound on SR 15. Police report the roadway was under construction and was down to one lane in each direction of travel. Vega’s 2005 Ford F150, pulling a lawn care trailer with a riding lawn mower and mowing equipment, struck Lemon’s stopped northbound motorcycle from behind. Lemon was ejected from the motorcycle and died on the scene. Vega’s vehicle then struck a stopped northbound 2004 Nissan 350 driven by Jose Lazaro, 21, Goshen. Vega’s vehicle then went off the east side of the road.
Debris from the initial impact hit a stopped northbound 2014 Dodge Caravan driven by Jeffrey Yontz, 59, New Paris, causing minor rear damage. Vega’s truck then went back onto the roadway hitting Brady’s stopped northbound 2009 Pontiac G6 from behind. James Gluckin, 75, Elkhart, was southbound on SR 15 on a 2018 Honda and laid the motorcycle down. Gluckin was wearing a helmet.
Lazaro suffered minor injures and was treated at the scene. Gluckin suffered a broken left arm, fracture to the left shoulder and other possible broken bones. The report also lists Ollie Jaco, 46, New Paris, a pedestrian, was injured suffering abrasions, bruising and possible facial fractures.
Lutheran EMS, New Paris EMS, Goshen EMS assisted at the scene. Indiana State Police and an investigator with the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office also assisted at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office crash investigation team.
Traffic control was completed by INDOT with SR 15 shut down for investigation from CR 50 to CR 146 until 5 p.m.