Officials are currently investigating a Christmas day head-on crash in Syracuse that has injured three people, and claimed the lives of two.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Deputies, along with Syracuse police, fire and EMS, responded Sunday evening at approximately 6:13 p.m. to the intersection of County Road 1200 North and Syracuse/Webster Road after receiving a 911 call of a two-vehicle crash. Officers and emergency personnel arrived and located two vehicles that had struck virtually head-on, according to 1st Sgt. Chad Hill, Public Information Officer for the KCSD.
A preliminary determination in to the cause of the crash has determined that the 2015 Chrysler driven by Mickgomery W. Hisey, 26, Syracuse, had allegedly been attempting to “drag race” in the wrong lane of traffic prior to the collision.
According to witness statements, Hisey had begun passing another vehicle westbound on a hillcrest just prior to the intersection, deputies said.
Hisey’s vehicle entered into the intersection, impacting the 2016 Pontiac that was being driven by Stephen T. Conrad, 67, Syracuse. Conrad was extricated from his vehicle and transported to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, in serious condition. Conrad’s passengers, his son Stephen T. Conrad II, 32, Syracuse, and his wife, Kimberly R. Conrad, 61, Syracuse, were pronounced dead at the scene by Kosciusko County Coroner Tony Ciriello.
Hisey was also extricated from his vehicle, along with his passenger, Brody Jordan, 23, Syracuse, by the Syracuse/Turkey Creek Fire Territory. Hisey was taken to Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, in critical condition. Jordan was taken to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, in serious condition.
Kim Conrad was a retired kindergarten teacher from Syracuse Elementary, former cheerleading coach and realtor. She touched the lives of thousands of children and adults in the Kosciusko County community.
