4 people injured in Pleasant Township crash

VW independent news

A truck driver from Camden, Michigan was cited for assured clear distance and distracted driving for his role in a Tuesday afternoon crash on U.S. 127 near Cooper Road in Pleasant Township.

The crash, which occurred at approximately 2:05 p.m. sent four people to Van Wert Health for treatment of various injuries.

The trucker, Daniel Lynn Drake, 40, was northbound on 127 when he ran into the back of a pickup truck driven by Michael Karcher, 67, of Van Wert, who was waiting to make a left turn. A third vehicle, an SUV driven by Belinda Ann Culley, 62, of Fort Wayne, was hit and flipped on its side before coming to rest in a field.

Drake told deputies he had looked down to get his coffee and had his cruise control set at 60 miles per hour when his rig hit Karcher’s truck.

Karcher and a passenger, Jill Kay Karcher, 67, and Gulley and a passenger, Darla A. Keller, 65, of Fort Wayne were taken to the hospital by EMS. Drake was not injured. All three vehicles sustained disabling damage and had to be towed from the scene.

In addition to deputies, firefighters from Van Wert and Ohio City and Middle Point EMS were at the scene.