At approximately 2:02 p.m. on February 9, 2023, emergency personnel in Fulton County were dispatched to CR 700 N and US 31 to a crash involving a semi and passenger vehicle. Preliminary investigation by Sr. Deputy Matt Craig revealed a 2008 Black Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Tobias Mullet, age 34, Nappanee, IN. was traveling west on CR 700 N crossing US 31. The pickup crossed the northbound lane continuing west and drove into a southbound semi driven by Christopher Wallace, age 30, Holton, IN. The semi was a milk tanker and empty at the time of the crash. The impact of the crash caused the semi and trailer to exit the west side of the roadway south of the intersection.
Mr. Mullet suffered head injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to South Bend Memorial for treatment. Mr. Wallace suffered what appeared to be minor injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to Woodlawn Hospital for treatment.
While recovering the semi, an employee for Reichert & Knepp was struck by a recovery vehicle and suffered a leg injury. Initial investigation by Deputy Ryan Utter revealed a 1989 Blue International recovery vehicle driven to the scene by Matthew Riffel, age 38, of Plymouth, IN was left in neutral without the emergency brake engaged. While the recovery vehicle was unoccupied, it rolled down the embankment and struck Reichert & Knepp employee Tyler Newton, age 34, of Lapaz, IN. The recovery vehicle then struck a driver’s side tire of the crashed semi, stopping the recovery vehicle from further injuring Mr. Newton. Mr. Newton was able to be removed from the two vehicles without any mechanical extrication. Mr. Newton suffered a leg injury as a result of the crash and was transported to South Bend Memorial for treatment.
Assisting the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Rochester Fire Department, Lutheran EMS, Fulton County EMA, and INDOT. Motorist experienced various lane closures in the area for over 3 hours while the scene was investigated and cleaned.
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