Brakes fail in Mason accident
Published 8:31 pm Friday, December 2, 2005
By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - The Cass County Sheriff's Department is investigating an accident that sent one to an Elkhart, Ind., hospital.
According to a press release issued by the department, on Wednesday at 3 p.m. on U.S. 12 near Calvin Center Road in Mason Township, Johnny Nelson, 38, of Edwardsburg was stopped in the west bound lane on U.S. 12, waiting to turn into Simmons Mobile Home Park, when he was rear-ended by another vehicle.
Johnny Nelson was no injured, but a passenger in his vehicle, Jason Nelson, 35, of Edwardsburg, was transported to Elkhart General Hospital for treatment.
The Nelson vehicle was struck by a car driven by William Heckathorn, 25, of Niles, who told deputies he was travelling west on U.S. 12 when he saw the first vehicle stopped in the roadway. He told deputies his brakes failed, causing him to rear-end the Nelson vehicle and overturn his car, the report indicates.
Passengers in Heckathorn's vehicle included Robert Mangold, 30, and Albert Hardmon, 47, both of Buchanan. None in the Heckathorn vehicle were injured and all were wearing seat belts, according to the police report.
Porter Township Fire and Ambulance assisted on the scene. Alcohol was not a factor, deputies said.
Also, the Cass County Sheriff's Department is investigating a single-car injury accident that occurred at about 3:53 p.m. on Dixon Street near Cable Parkway, Silver Creek Township.
Emergency personnel were called to the scene after the vehicle driven by Frank E. Frohlich, 80, of 50000 block of Sister Lakes Road lost control and slid off the roadway striking a utility pole.
The vehicle ended up on its roof and the utility pole was snapped off. Frohlich suffered minor injuries from the incident.
Sister Lakes Fire and Ambulance assisted at the crash scene.
Alcohol was not a factor in the crash and a seatbelt was used, the report indicated.