Sunday December 22nd, the Indiana State Police investigated a single vehicle personal injury automobile crash on I-69 at the 323mm near Auburn, DeKalb County. According to investigators all three occupants were transported to the Parkview Hospital (North Campus) with non-life threatening injuries. Passenger restraint usage and airbag deployment was identified as having prevented a much more severe outcome.
At approximately 1:55pm, Trooper James Bailey responded to investigate the reported single vehicle crash. Bailey’s initial investigation revealed that a 2012 Nissan Rogue passenger car had been traveling southbound on I-69 323mm in the passing lane. For an unknown reason, the Nissan Rouge left the roadway into the center grass median and the driver overcorrected, sending the vehicle across both southbound lanes of travel and into the west ditch. The Nissan then struck two trees on the passenger side prior to coming to rest. The driver, 60yr old Anne Reitz of Angola and her two adult passengers were all wearing their seatbelts at the time, and all air bag systems deployed during the crash. Bailey stated that, as testament to proper restraint usage and airbag technology, all three occupants were very fortunate. All three were transported by DeKalb County EMS with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.
This crash comes at time during this busy holiday travel period where the Indiana State Police would remind all motorists to buckle up, slow down, and don’t drive distracted. Every driver needs to do their part to ensure safe holiday travels for all motorists on Indiana roadways. In an effort to intercept dangerous and impaired driving behaviors, Troopers from the Fort Wayne Post will be out in full force now through January 2nd as part of Operation CARE, aggressively patrolling to keep our roadways safe.
Trooper Bailey was assisted at the scene by Master Trooper Chris Levitt, the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, Auburn Fire Department, DeKalb County EMS, and Parker’s Wrecker service.
