STEUBEN CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – The Steuben County Sheriff’s Department says an investigation is underway into what happened before a fatal head-on crash this past weekend.
Investigators are working to determine why a driver veered left of center on Saturday evening, leading to a head-on collision that resulted in his death.
The crash occurred just after 6:40 p.m. on U.S. 20, west of Angola, according to a Steuben County Sheriff’s Department statement.
The statement says that preliminary findings indicate that 91-year-old Lester Merkle of Ohio City, Ohio, was driving west on U.S. 20 when his SUV crossed into the opposite lane, colliding head-on with an oncoming pickup truck. The pickup driver attempted to avoid the crash but was unable to do so.
Merkle was pronounced dead at the scene. The pickup driver was initially taken to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to a Fort Wayne medical facility.
Authorities believe alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and airbags deployed in both vehicles. The road was damp at the time of the incident. The Steuben County crash investigation team continues to look into the cause of the crash.
The Steuben County Sheriff’s Department released the following:
On 11/09/2024 just after 6:40 pm, Steuben County Sheriff’s deputies and other first responders were called to the area of US 20 between CR 800 W and CR 900 W in rural Jackson Township on a report of a 2-vehicle head on collision. It was also reported that at least one of the vehicles involved was on fire. Upon the arrival of first responders, the fire was quickly extinguished by the Salem Township Fire Department.
Initial responding deputies located a blue SUV in the middle of the roadway facing south and a black pickup truck on the south shoulder facing east, both vehicles with heavy front-end damage. The driver of the blue SUV was deceased inside the vehicle. The Steuben County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) was called to the scene to assist in the investigation.
Preliminary crash scene investigation indicated that the blue 2014 Lincoln MKX driven by 91 year old Lester Merkle of Ohio City, OH was traveling westbound on US 20 when Merkle’s vehicle drifted left of the center line into the path of the eastbound black 2014 Ram 1500 pickup truck driven by 65 year old Lorene Fuentes of Angola, IN. Fuentes attempted to avoid the crash by steering to the right but was an able to, and both vehicles collided head-on.
Fuentes sustained lower leg, arm, and possible internal injuries and was transported to Cameron Hospital by Steuben County EMS in serious condition before being flown to a Fort Wayne area hospital by the Samaritan helicopter for treatment. Merkle was pronounced dead at the scene due to apparent blunt force trauma by the Steuben County Coroner’s Office.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash at this time. Seatbelts were in use and airbags were deployed. The roadway was damp at the time of the crash which remains under investigation by the Steuben County crash investigation team.
Assisting the Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division, Angola Police, Steuben County EMS, Steuben County Coroner’s Office, and the Salem Township Fire Department.
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