Police and Patriot Guard members who were accompanying the remains of Spc. Robert Tauteris, Jr. from Valparaiso to North Judson on Saturday were credited with saving the lives of several people in a Jeep that was involved in an accident along the route. The Jeep was driven by Ana Pina, 35, of South Bend. The vehicle was rear-ended by a pick-up driven by 76-year-old John Buibish, of Grovertown.
The Jeep caught fire and veered across the median of U.S. 30 into the path of the procession. The police and members of the Patriot Guard rushed to the accident and pulled Pina, her 6-year-old twins and mother from the burning wreckage.
Pina and a daughter were flown to a Chicago area hospital’s trauma center and the other members of the family were taken to a Hobart hospital.
Buibish received a bloody nose when his airbag exploded.
