Another weather-related accident on U.S. 20 near Rolling Prairie claimed a second life within three days. On Monday morning, Feb. 16, 2015, an Iowa man who was a passenger in a car died in a collision reportedly caused by obstructed view because of high snow piles, the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office reports.
The crash occurred at U.S. 20 and CR 600 East at about 10 a.m., when a Toyota Prius driven by Laura Winter, 53, of Hudson Lake, was turning from U.S. 20 onto 600 East and entered the path of an eastbound Ford Explorer on U.S. 20. The Explorer’s driver was Tysheea Liggins, 32, of Michigan City.
The Explorer struck the Prius’s passenger side. The passenger, William Harrold, 66, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and formerly of LaPorte County, was pronounced dead at the scene by LaPorte County Coroner’s Office personnel. He had been extricated from the car by the Kankakee Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Winter, who was airlifted by medical helicopter and flown to St. Joseph Hospital in Mishawaka, told LaPorte County Sheriff’s Deputy James Arnold that her view was obstructed by snow that was piled in the median at the intersection. Liggins, who refused medical treatment, said she was unable to avoid the collision when the Prius drove into her path.
Both drivers tested negative for alcohol. All occupants were wearing seat belts and the airbags deployed in both vehicles.
This is the second fatal accident on U.S. 20 near Rolling Prairie in three days. On Saturday, Feb. 14, during blizzard conditions, a 7-year-old Goshen-area girl was killed in a 4-vehicle pileup.
Emergency personnel at the scene included sheriff’s deputies, LaPorte County EMS, LaPorte County coroner, Kankakee Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Indiana Department of Transportation.