Indiana State Police sent this bulletin at 07/14/2017 09:14 PM EDT
Whitley County, IN – The Indiana State Police is investigating a two vehicle crash which occurred earlier this afternoon on US 30 that claimed the life of a man from Allen County and injured two others.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Jonathan Amburgey indicated at approximately 3:25 p.m., a 2016 Hyundai Sonata driven by 70-year-old John W. Stroup of rural Columbia City was traveling eastbound on US 30 at County Road 700 E, approximately four miles east of Columbia City.
Stroup reportedly began turning north onto 700 E and in doing so, struck a westbound 2008 Pontiac Montana van driven by 55-year-old Darrell L. Jeffrey of northern Allen County. The broadside impact caused the van to roll over at least once and ejected 62-year-old Richard B. Falk of Ossian. He was flown by medical helicopter to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne with life-threatening injuries. Another passenger in the van, 72-year-old Lovis P. Ort of Fort Wayne was transported by Parkview EMS to Parkview Regional Medical Center for non life-threatening injuries.
Although he was wearing his seat belt, Jeffrey suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Stroup’s wife and two juvenile children were also in the Sonata at the time and because they were all seat belted, they did not require hospitalization. The westbound lanes of US 30 were closed for about two-and-a-half hours during the investigation and subsequent clearing of the vehicles and debris from the roadway.
At this time, the crash remains under investigation. Trooper Amburgey was assisted at the scene by the Whitley County Sheriff Department, the Coesse Fire Department and Parkview EMS.