Division of Law Enforcement Photo
A LaPorte County man was seriously injured in a snowmobile crash early Monday morning. Indiana Conservation Officers say it happened around midnight in a field near Hanna. Investigators believe Charles Zbuka, 38, was riding across the field at about 40 miles per hour, when he crashed into a large ditch.
Another snowmobile rider reportedly saw the crash and found Zbuka unconscious in the water at the bottom of the ditch. Police say the witness held Zbuka’s head above the water and called 911.
LaPorte County Police were the first to respond and were able to pull Zbuka out of the ditch using a rope, according to conservation officers. He was taken to LaPorte Hospital and then South Bend Memorial Hospital in serious but stable condition.
Police say Zbuka was wearing a helmet. They believe speed, poor visibility, and alcohol were factors in the crash. Indiana Conservation Officers credit the quick actions of the witness and the two LaPorte County sheriff’s deputies with saving Zbuka’s life.
