Plymouth Man Airlifted to South Bend Following Grovertown Crash

Wreck 6
 

An early afternoon pickup truck versus motorcycle crash in front of the Grovertown Truck Stop shut down traffic in both directions for about an hour and sent a Plymouth man to a South Bend hospital. Justin Neher was westbound on U.S. 30 on his bike when a Chevrolet Silverado driven by Natalie Radtke, 17, of North Judson turned east out of the truck stop into his path. Continue reading

Pierceton Man Dies in Accident in Starke County

A Pierceton man died yesterday morning in a two vehicle accident in front of the Grovertown Truck Stop in Starke County.

Steve Mort was driving westbound on U.S. 30 and did not see a semi pulling out of the truck stop. The semi was turning eastbound on U.S. 30 when Mort drove into the semi’s trailer that was carrying a large wind turbine propeller. Mort’s vehicle went underneath the trailer trapping he and his passenger, his brother, in the vehicle. Mort and his brother, Tim Mort, were extricated from the vehicle. Steve Mort was transported to the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Plymouth where he later died of his injuries. Tim Mort was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend and was listed in stable condition.

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One Dies in Early Morning Accident in Starke County

One person has died after sustaining injuries in a two vehicle accident on U.S. 30 in front of the Grovertown Truck Stop in Starke County this morning.

A semi hauling a wind turbine propeller was leaving the truck stop to go east on U.S. 30, escorted by four vehicles with wide-load signage. The semi and the load were completely across the westbound lane and partially across the eastbound lane. A man traveling westbound in his vehicle failed to see the semi. The man drove under the semi trailer carrying the propeller.

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Plymouth Man Arrested on Starke County Warrant

Jason Cooke

Jason Cooke, of Plymouth, was recently arrested by Starke County police on a warrant and has been charged with Resisting Law Enforcement and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, all Class D Felonies.

The offense occurred on August 31st when Cooke allegedly fled from police after he initially told police to go around him while exiting the Grovertown Truck Stop. He reportedly waved the police to go around him and the officer decided that the driver didn’t want the officer to follow him and criminal activity may be involved. The driver then pulled away and drove east through the parking lot. The officer followed and started traveling east on U.S. 30 behind the vehicle. The car turned south on 1100 East and started to drive faster. The vehicle crossed the railroad tracks and went off the side of the road. The officer activated his emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop but the car kept going. The officer stated in his report that he followed the car until the car swerved into a corn field and went down the road until he saw the vehicle come out on the south end of the field. The vehicle stopped and the driver and passenger ran from the vehicle on foot. Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Knox City Police Department were unable to find the suspects.

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Walkerton Man Arrested on Theft Charge; Sheriff’s Deputies Recover Stolen Property in Unrelated Case

Robert Packer

Starke County Police deputies arrested Robert Packer, 40, of Walkerton, on Monday, January 3rd, in connection with the theft of auto parts from the Grovertown Truckstop on December 31st, 2010.

Packer is being held at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department on preliminary charges of Theft, Driving While Suspended and Possession of a Syringe.

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