Accident in Kosciusko County Kills 1, Injures 2

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Fatal accident on Old Road 30 in Kosciusko County

(Photo courtesy Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Dec 5, 2007 at 6:36 AM EST

Story Updated: Dec 5, 2007 at 12:50 PM EST

(WSBT) One person died and two ended up in the hospital after a crash in Kosciusko County.

Police say Ryan Herrick, 19, was going west on Old Road 30 Tuesday afternoon southeast of Etna Green.

He passed a car near the 800 West intersection and then lost control, crossing the center line and hitting a truck almost head-on.

The truck driver, 76-year-old Keith Hoffer of Atwood, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Herrick was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend where he was last listed in stable condition.

A passenger in his car, 20-year-old Joshua Clemons of Bourbon, was also flown to Memorial where he's listed in critical condition.

Tuesday, Dec 25 at 10:12 PM Josuha (deaf boy) wrote ...

I know both of them in my high school. Josh was not drive, he not fault. Please pray for Josh and Doozy family and I do.

Thursday, Dec 13 at 10:06 PM no name wrote ...

i would like to no why this has to keep going and going this is awful to see this real bad commments going on here. if cant say nice stuff dont right it

Thursday, Dec 13 at 3:16 PM Ray wrote ...

Anonymous you need to get your facts straight Josh Was NOT driving so why the hell should he be getting into trouble...keep your nose out of this you have no business stating things that aren't true..

Thursday, Dec 13 at 11:15 AM CHRISTIE AND TONY wrote ...

SO ANONYMOUS NEEDS TO GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT.. JOSH WASN'T DRIVING.. SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT STAY OFF THIS SITE THEN!!!IF JOSH WAS DRIVING I WOULD SEE YOUR POINT BUT HE WASN'T SO STOP!!!

Thursday, Dec 13 at 11:11 AM CHRISTIE AND TONY wrote ...

OK FOR ONE THING "ANONYMOUS" GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT BECAUSE JOSH WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR!!!! THERE FOR IT WAS NOT HIS FAULT THEY HIT THE TRUCK.. PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO GROW THE HELL UP ON HERE.. HOW COULD YOU OR ANYONE CALL SOMEONE IN ICU AND IDIOT!!

Wednesday, Dec 12 at 4:42 PM Cousin to Josh wrote ...

Anonymous, I pray for YOU and I sure do hope nothing like this happens to you or a friend or family member of yours, cause in the bible it says "Do unto others as you would have them do to you" and you need to be careful it doesn't come back and bite

Wednesday, Dec 12 at 2:48 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Christy and Tony Im so glad u guys are so excited that JOSH is getting better, but are you guys gunna be excited when the idiot is sitting behind bars for ever for vehicular manslaughter? Which hopefully they do. Pray for him? NO! Doozys family? YES!

Tuesday, Dec 11 at 1:32 PM Curious wrote ...

I am curious, LYFF, what is your interest in this case? Are you a family member, friend, etc? You seem to post a lot of comments and I was curious what your interest is here.

Tuesday, Dec 11 at 10:38 AM christie and tony wrote ...

we have some exciting news about josh!!! he was squeezing our aunt lora's hand.. that is great he is making progress!! our buddy is gonna be alright i just no it.. everybody keep up the prayers!!!!! we love you josh!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, Dec 11 at 9:04 AM Lyfff wrote ...

"ALL KNOWING" Anonymous Idiot, Amazing how someone who knows it all can be so scared to use a name. Information from the family PLUS from those involved in the accident PLUS law enforcement PLUS Memorial Hospital/EMS information EQUALS what I know.

Tuesday, Dec 11 at 2:11 AM Anonymous wrote ...

ONE OF JOSH'S COUSINS SAYS THAT NOONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED EXCEPT THEIR FAMILY AND THE ONES IN THE ACCIDENT....HOW IN THE HELL IS YOUR FAMILY GOING TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BESIDES WHAT THE STUPID KIDS TOLD YOU GUYS...WHICH WOULD BE A BUNCH OF LIES

Monday, Dec 10 at 7:05 PM Lyfff wrote ...

Anonymous, The FACTS...A colleague of mine with law enforcement & at Memorial, stated that the boys WERE RACING. There is NO excuse for what happened. It was NOT JUST an innocent accident.It is time to quit making excuses for these boys.

Monday, Dec 10 at 3:35 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO QUIT THE LIES AND STORY TELLING . IF U DONT NO THAT FACTS AND THE TRUTH THAN DONT TELL IT AT ALL IT IS HEAR SAY SO PLEASE STOP FOR ALL THE FAMILES. WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR ALL THE FAMILES INVOLED IN THIS VERY SAD ACCIDENT

Saturday, Dec 8 at 12:18 AM Cousin Of Josh.. Kelly wrote ...

My prayers go out to the Hoffer family and i would wish you would do the same for josh. The rumors should stop that facts are here and we should all just pray for all the families and not talk about either side. we cant take anything back now...

Friday, Dec 7 at 1:14 PM Plymouth Baptist Church Staff wrote ...

The comment posted from PLYMOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH YOUTH GROUP, should have also included that we are praying for the Clemons AND Hoffer family. PLEASE refrain from posting w/ the church identity, as we cannot he held responsible for misrepresentation.

Friday, Dec 7 at 12:28 PM Cousin to Josh wrote ...

My prayers go out to Mr. Hoffer's family and friends. My cousin is strong and my prayers are with him and with my aunt and uncle and the boys.

Friday, Dec 7 at 12:00 PM Plymouth Baptist Church Youth Group wrote ...

Our prayers are with the clemons family we hope your will be too!!!

Friday, Dec 7 at 8:14 AM cousin to josh wrote ...

nobody but my family and the people that were at the accident know what happened so if you dont know the full story please keep to your self. my prayers go out to josh!!! love ya buddy!

Friday, Dec 7 at 12:13 AM Anonymous wrote ...

its obvious the rumors have started somehow because all of you seem to know the facts in the accident. if you want to know what really happened talk to somebody who was there. That narrows it down to four people. i am very sorry for the families.

Thursday, Dec 6 at 11:31 PM Joshua's mom wrote ...

My son does not have a broken neck ! He has 2 broken legs 1 broken,& dislocated arm,broken collar bone. Bruised lungs, an a head injury,is still not responding. My prayers go out to the Hoffer family.please do the same for my josh!!!!!!!

Thursday, Dec 6 at 10:38 PM Greiving wrote ...

Miranda you should really feel like crap saying crap about Doozys family....I guess your friends should not have been being stupid and racing down that road or any road for that fact....Dont even sit there and say they weren't...120 mph come on now

Thursday, Dec 6 at 2:38 PM mary jo ana wrote ...

wow. people unnecessarily take sides on these type of situations... if you weren't there, don't assume anything. and if you do, don't post it. that causes online drama.

Thursday, Dec 6 at 1:09 PM Valerie wrote ...

Unfortunately for friends of Ryan, the evidence reported is that the accident was caused by driver error. He passed in a non-passing zone on a hill, i.e. reckless driving. Vehicular Manslaughter, accident or not, Ryan's error cost a life.

Thursday, Dec 6 at 9:25 AM Amanda wrote ...

I just wanted to let the Hoffer family know that my family and I are praying for all of you. It's a sad, sad thing to lose a family member and this close to Christmas. My prayers are also with Ryan and Josh.

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 10:28 PM Andrea wrote ...

I knew Josh and Ryan from High school..They were great friends of mine..They both are a great funny guys..I know I havent seen them in a while, but my prayers and all of my friends and families prayers go out to them..I love u both!....

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 10:02 PM Prayers are with them wrote ...

As a 911 dispatcher it is difficult to receive these calls. People need to realize that a vehicle is not a toy but a very powerful and dangerous machine. Use common sense when driving, remember to slow down. God Bless

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 8:20 PM How sad wrote ...

Miranda...sounds like you are the one starting rumors....sounds like you need to get the facts before you start posting on here....posting without knowing the facts is how rumors get started. My prayers go out to all the families.

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 4:54 PM curt wrote ...

prayers go out to both families no need to point fingers police reports will come out an tell the truth god bless happy holidays

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 3:56 PM Jeffrey wrote ...

Josh and Ryan are a couple of my best friends and I promise to you all that their gonna make it . It was a serious accident and we all need to realize what we have and please pray for them and to all their families

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 3:44 PM christie wrote ...

joshua is my husbands cousin and my prayers are going out to our entire family... although josh's neck is NOT broken his collar bone is... we need to keep josh in our prayers... hopefully he will make a full recovery..

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 2:38 PM Grieving wrote ...

Miranda-Get a grip. I am a granddaughter of "Doozy" Hoffer and our family is not about to start rumors. We are going on facts supplied to us from the police report and emts working the scene.

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 1:33 PM JESSE O'HARA wrote ...

KEITH HOFFER WAS MY UNCLE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE HAS DONE FOR THIS TOWN HE WORKED RED CROSS DRIVES HE IS A MAN THAT WILL BE GREATLY MISSED ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT HEAVEN NEEDED ANOTHER ANGEL HE WAS GREATLY LOVED

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 1:31 PM Lyfff wrote ...

It is cruel to assume the family of the deceased will start rumors. The police report filed from the scene, and laboratory testing from the hospital will tell the facts about the situation.

Wednesday, Dec 5 at 1:18 PM Miranda wrote ...

Josh and Ryan are two of my best friends. Please pray for their safe recovery. Ryan is in stable condition. However, Josh is in critical care and has a broken neck. My prayers go out to Mr. Hoffer's family and friends. Please don't start rumors.

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