Man found in car on U.S. 30 shot himself

Van Wert independent/submitted information

A Van Wert man whose body was found in his car on U.S. 30 Wednesday morning apparently committed suicide, according to information released Friday by Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach.

The man, identified as Curtis J. Prenger, 23, died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Lucas County Coroner’s Office confirmed.

An autopsy performed by that office noted that injuries to Prenger were consistent with a self-inflected gunshot and consistent with the sheriff’s office report of a suicide. The Van Wert man apparently shot himself with a 9-mm handgun, which was recovered from inside the vehicle. Deputies also determined that Prenger was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.

The sheriff’s office had received a 9-1-1 call at approximately 6:20 a.m. Wednesday reporting that someone was inside a car found in a ditch off U.S. 30, just east of Ringwald Road, in Van Wert County.

Deputies removed the body and sent it to Lucas County for an autopsy.

Assisting the sheriff’s office were Van Wert County Coroner Dr. Scott Jarvis, Middle Point Fire Department, and Brickner Ambulance Service.