Teen critically injured in collision with dump truck

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Sep 4, 2008 at 3:59 PM EST

Story Updated: Sep 4, 2008 at 4:02 PM EST

St. JOSEPH CO. — A 17-year-old girl was injured in a collision with a dump truck Thursday morning.

It happened at the intersection of Ireland and Locust roads around 9:20 a.m.

Witnesses told police Jennifer Nace of South Bend was driving south on Locust Road approaching the stop sign at Ireland. One witness saw the brake lights activate on Nace's car but then lost sight of her vehicle as it traveled down a hill.

Another witness saw Nace's car slow down for the stop sign but then continue into the path of an eastbound dump truck, which had the right of way at the intersection.

When emergency crews arrived Nace was unresponsive. She was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend where she is listed in critical condition.

The driver of the dump truck was identified as 36-year-old Adolfo Carrillo of Hobart. He was uninjured, but was taken to Memorial Hospital for a blood test as part of standard procedure in a serious injury accident, according to the St. Joseph County Police.

The truck Carrillo was driving, owned by Whitcomb Trucking Inc., was carrying a load of gravel weighing approximately 23,000 pounds.

The Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Carrier Unit was called to the scene to inspect the dump truck as part of standard procedure.

The intersection was closed until approximately 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct 19 at 5:53 PM samantha wrote ...

hey hun i hope u get better

Tuesday, Sep 9 at 9:18 PM Isaiah & Mackenzie Holcomb wrote ...

Get well soon Jennifer. Our prayers are with you always. We love you bunches. Hugs and kisses. (SWEET DREAMS WITH ANGELS) Chuck E Cheese is still waiting for us so you have to get better soon!!!!! LOVE YA

Monday, Sep 8 at 10:58 PM DianaHaughton wrote ...

There is a website where you can get updates on Jennifer and leave comments. ((Hopefully some comments where people use their sence)) The family is greatful that so much people care. The Website is www.carepages.com search for Jennifer Nace. Thank you guys. It means alot. I Love you Jen-Jen DianaMaire

Monday, Sep 8 at 9:06 PM Bro. of teen wrote ...

I hope you (Jason) choke on your lunch ;~}

Sunday, Sep 7 at 11:19 PM scottie wrote ...

Hey everyone thanks for your guys thought and prays it means alot to use. She is my girlfriend and i really care and love her. She will make it we just have to have faith and there is alot of it she is to strong. She really is a specal person she is the best thang that has ever happed to me and she has been there for me no matter what. And she was not on her phone it was just wet that is it her phone was found in her purse so tell me how that happen if she was on it. Love u babe be strong love u

Sunday, Sep 7 at 11:08 PM Mother of teen wrote ...

I would like to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers. She is a strong girl she is going to make it and pull through so please keep praying and keep faith.Once again thank you very much you dont know how much it means to the whole family. Love u baby keep fighting.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 8:45 PM Melissa Morgan wrote ...

I love Jennifer with all my heart. I was married into her family, to her uncle. I've know her since she was a little girl. My step dad was in a much worse situation not too mention he drank all the time and he pulled through,he's still kicking. I know Jen, she will come out of this and be well before we know it. Nace family my prayers are with you if you need anything don't hesitate to ask.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 6:17 PM Southfield worker wrote ...

I am sorry to hear some thing like this happend. She is such a nice and caring girl. Just wanted to say that my thoughts and prayers are with you Jennifer. I hope you have a speedy recovery. We miss you at work.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 4:46 PM Jen Harber wrote ...

That was a terrible accident you are more brave then i am getting out on the road i still dont drive. I hope you get better soon, me and george are praying for you. Hang in there Nace family, shes a fighter.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 4:28 PM Marcia Harber wrote ...

our prayers are with you jen and the whole nace family.get well soon and keep fighting your a strong girl and i know you will make it.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 4:23 PM Ashley Harber wrote ...

i cant believe something like this happened to a person like her. its shocking to me. I hope for all the best on her recovery and pulls through. My prayers go to Jennifer and her family. Love ya chicka! stay strong

Saturday, Sep 6 at 7:40 PM Jason wrote ...

Sorry, next time I'll just ask my imaginary friend to look after her and keep her safe. Your telling me that's the thing to do here, right?

Saturday, Sep 6 at 6:17 PM Stacie wrote ...

Keep your prayers coming.. She is in such bad shape half the time they are kicking her parents out of the room. She is a great person, in fact she was on her way to get breakfast for her terminally ill father. She tried to stop, but slid down the hill through the intersection. In the middle of the intersection she saw the truck coming and slammed the gas to try to get through because it was too late to stop. Stay strong Jenn we all love you!

Saturday, Sep 6 at 2:11 PM Diana Haughton wrote ...

she was responding with us yesterday.. your prayers are helping along with the whole family. I want to thank everyone. I Love You Jennifer

Saturday, Sep 6 at 11:10 AM Jaime Pyburn wrote ...

I am also relation to Jen. I was in the room when the police came with the report. It was slick there from the rain and that stop sign is on a hill. She slid into the oncoming traffic and tried to get out of the way. She did try to stop but she couldn't. This was a freak accident. And as far as a cell phone? Her cell phone was found in her purse in the car. I know this for a fact b/c my husband went to get her belongings with her father. Jen is a wonderful person. I know.

Saturday, Sep 6 at 2:44 AM David wrote ...

it probably wasn't a cellphone at all (Jason) not all accidents are cell-phone related, you idiot. I hope she recovers soon

Friday, Sep 5 at 9:25 PM Stella wrote ...

Yes Ruth, I read the papers and watch the news, there are many other intersections that have the same amount of accidents, that dont have stop lights. You cant just SCREAM stop lights when there are accidents. If if bothers you that much, maybe you should move......I drive it everyday and gee Ive never been in an accident.

Friday, Sep 5 at 8:09 PM rachel wrote ...

poor little thing,she has our prayers. just ignore people like jason.as we can all see more of us choose to pray for eachother.he stands alone.

Friday, Sep 5 at 5:19 PM Brittany wrote ...

I got my prayers out there for you Jen an family..your a strong girl and your fighting. Gonna be a long recovery, lets hope it goes well.. love ya girl

Friday, Sep 5 at 4:18 PM Belinda Holcomb wrote ...

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR KIND WORDS AND PRAYERS FOR JENNIFER NACE. PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING. AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY,THATS REALLY SAD. BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU MIGHT NEED A PRAYER OR TWO FOR A LOVED ONE.AND THE NACE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE THERE WITH OUR KIND WORDS AND PRAYERS. JUST REMEMBER JASON GOD DOES NOT LIKE UGLY! GUESS WHAT WILL PROBLEY HAPPEN HERE? OUR PRAYERS FOR YOU!!!! WE LOVE YOU JEN. KEEP FIGHTING BABY GIRL!!

Friday, Sep 5 at 2:11 PM sarah m. wrote ...

you and the rest of the family up in IN are in my prayers jennifer.

Friday, Sep 5 at 1:28 PM Anonymous wrote ...

17 yrs...young and strong. Keeping fighting. Lots of prayers being said for you. Mr. Szalay, I just read the update on your son and I am so happy and grateful for your family. What a true miracle. Congrats on bringing your boy home soon!

Friday, Sep 5 at 12:00 PM Ruth wrote ...

Stella, apparently you do not know all of the accidents that happen on this corner, if you did you would not be saying there does not need to be a traffic light there, get your facts straight!!!!

Friday, Sep 5 at 9:51 AM Dale wrote ...

I agree Ireland and Locust IS a bad intersection. I am more-than-concerned that there isn't a traffic light there. But the same can be said for several other intersections in the area (i.e. Ireland and SR 23, Ireland and Linden). However, if this was a case of mechanical failure, then there is nothing that can (or could) be done except pray that God spares the young lady. Either way it is just very, very sad. Way to young. My hopes and prayers go out to the Nace family.

Friday, Sep 5 at 9:42 AM Stella wrote ...

Who knows what really happened, it was a bad accident, lets not make assumptions. I drive that part of town all the time, it does not need a light or anything, it has a big enough stop sign. People in general just need to pay attention. Not every intersection needs a light just because there are a few accidents there, lets get real people.....God bless her in the recovery process..

Friday, Sep 5 at 8:27 AM Ruth wrote ...

I live on that dangerous corner and have been screaming for a light or something to warn drivers, after numerous accidents, when are they going to finally install a light?

Friday, Sep 5 at 4:18 AM larry wrote ...

we love you jennifer

Friday, Sep 5 at 12:16 AM diana haughton wrote ...

for one it was her breaks that went out. This is my cousin...Which is in the hospital. I wonder if you would make the same comment if it was yours jason. Everyone that dosen't have a bug where the sun dosen't shine. please keep my cousin in your prayers. She's gonna need it.

Thursday, Sep 4 at 11:28 PM Nick Szalay wrote ...

To the whole Nace Family and friends of Jen's don't lose hope,faith,and prayer no matter what,nobody can take that from you.I feel your pain.I know what it's like.My little boy Nicholas J. is a miracle.I watched him come back to life and so much more.He overcame all the odds and Doctor's.I'll be praying for her.Don't listen to negative people that write on here.Just keep your faith,hope,and prayer.I'll be there to see her and you guys when I get back from Indy on Tue w/Nicholas.God Bless Her!!

Thursday, Sep 4 at 10:36 PM ron wrote ...

so sad so young hope she recovers

Thursday, Sep 4 at 9:42 PM mother of a teenager wrote ...

Jason you have no right to make that assumption. Let the investigators do their job and release what they find before making comments like that.

Thursday, Sep 4 at 8:53 PM Jason wrote ...

I can't remember the last time I saw a young girl driving a car without a cell phone glued to her ear. Guess what probably happened here?

Thursday, Sep 4 at 4:23 PM Bad Intersection wrote ...

When you're heading south on Locust unless you're familiar with the area you are on Ireland Road before you know it. I've witnessed many times where the people just think they have a lot of time to cross Ireland forgeting that those on Ireland are already going 55 mph. My prayers to this teen and hopefully she'll have a full and quick recovery.

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