FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – The Indiana State Police say alcohol played a role in a wreck in Fort Wayne that sent 12 people to the hospital. It happened about 7:15 p.m. Monday night on Highway 27, south of Fort Wayne, close to Hoagland Road.
Troopers say a pickup truck driver ignored a yield sign and pulled in front of a van. The crash split the pickup truck in half.
The State Police say everyone in the van, including ten kids, was all wearing their seatbelts. They all went to the hospital just to be checked out. The State Police say the pickup truck driver refused to cooperate with the investigation and was arrested.
Indiana State Police released the following on Monday:
This evening at approximately 7:15pm, troopers from the Fort Wayne Post and responded to a two vehicle personal injury crash at the intersection of US27 and Hoagland Road. Arriving on scene, troopers found a pick-up truck literally split in two pieces and a large passenger van with heavy front end damage off in the side ditch.
Senior Trooper Bryan Rumple’s preliminary investigation revealed that 2002 Dodge Dakota pick up truck, driven by David Mourey (65) of Hoagland, was traveling eastbound on Hoagland Road. Mourey crossed the intersection at US27, and failed to yield the right of way to a Ford passenger van traveling northbound on US27. The Ford passenger van, driven by Holly Mohr (41) of Auburn, crashed into the side of the pickup truck, ripping the truck in half. As a result of the crash, there were several entrapped occupants in the van, which had to be rescued by fire/rescue personnel.
There were ten children passengers in Mohr’s van, ranging from the age of 6 months to 15 years. Fortunately, Mohr had all ten of her children properly restrained, as well as herself. There were some minor injuries reported with a few of the children, however proper seatbelt restraints coupled with properly deployed airbag technology in the van were the keys to serious injury prevention. Regardless of injury status- due to the severity of the crash, all the children were transported to a local area hospital for medical evaluation, as well as both drivers.
Alcohol was suspected as a factor in this crash, on behalf of Mr. Mourey. He was alleged to have been less than cooperative with troopers investigating at the scene. He was admitted to an area hospital for his injuries, so the portion of the investigation related to alcohol impairment will be turned over to the Allen County Prosecutor for review of submitted evidence and determination of possible charges, which would be filed at a later date.
This is an ongoing investigation. There is nothing further for release at this time.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Allen County Police Department, Hoagland/Poe/Southwest Fire Department(s) and EMS personnel, New Haven EMS, and Parker’s Wrecker Service.
*All persons suspected of a crime are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
