Warsaw Police and the Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team are investigating a fatal crash involving a police car and a pedestrian.
On Friday at approximately 5:58 p.m., emergency units responded to Husky Trail, north of Harrison School, after a fully marked Winona Lake police car struck a pedestrian, according to a press release from the WPD.
The female pedestrian was unresponsive at the scene and died while being transported to a Fort Wayne hospital. The victim was identified as 67-year-old Sharon Mitterling, Warsaw.
The Winona Lake officer driving the police car was identified as 30-year-old patrol officer John Leeper, Warsaw.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Mitterling was walking down her driveway and was crossing Husky Trail, to get her mail, when she was struck by the southbound police car, the release states. Leeper observed that Mitterling was wearing a winter jacket with a hood pulled up over her head as she briskly walked in to the road without looking or stopping. Leeper stated that he swerved to avoid the collision, but was unable to. Leeper was driving to work to start his shift, and was not responding to any call for service.
As part of the investigation, Leeper was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for alcohol and drug testing. Toxicology results are pending for both parties. The investigation continues by Warsaw Police and Kosciusko County FACT.
Warsaw Police were assisted by Winona Lake Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Lutheran EMS Kosciusko, Warsaw Wayne Fire Territory, Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.
(Story By The Times Union)
