(EDEN TOWNSHIP) – A three vehicle accident in southwest LaGrange County claimed the life of a teenager.

The LaGrange County Sheriff’s Office says at 12:53 AM January 14, a car driven by 16 year old Jon Helmuth of Howe slid off the roadway on the east side of State Road 5 in the area of County Road 750 South.

A pickup, driven by 32 year old Jacob Nickerson of Warsaw stopped and attached a tow strap to Helmuth’s vehicle and attempted to pull it out of the ditch. A passenger in the Helmuth vehicle, 16 year old Benjamin Lehman of Nappanee, had gotten out of the vehicle and was standing in an unknown location on State Road 5.

A third vehicle, driven by 40 year old Stan Trusty of New Palestine, Indiana, was traveling south on State Road 5 and was approaching the other autos. Trusty says he attempted to drive between the two vehicles and didn’t realize there was a tow strap across the road.

Trusty went between the vehicle and struck Lehman, who was pronounced dead at
the scene.

Assisting Sheriff’s Deputies were the Shipshewana Police Department, the Topeka Fire Department, Parkview EMS and the LaGrange County Coroners Office.