STEUBEN CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office says that a Coldwater, Michigan man is facing charges after he was allegedly impaired when he was involved in a crash on Sunday. An Orland man sustained life-threatening injuries and had to be rescued from inside his truck. Police say it happened around 6:30 p.m. on SR 327.
Officials released the following on what happened:
On 04/14/2024 just before 6:30 pm, Steuben County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of SR 327 and CR 650 N on the north side of Orland for a report of a two-vehicle accident with injuries. It was reported that one of the crash victims was unconscious and possibly entrapped in the vehicle. Orland Fire Rescue also responded along with Steuben County EMS.
When initial responding deputies arrived, they located 2 vehicles facing each other on the west side of SR 327 just north of CR 650 N. The driver of a green Ford Ranger pickup truck was being extracted form the vehicle by Orland Fire Department. Due to the severity of injures and condition, the Samaritan helicopter was called to the scene.
Initial crash scene investigation indicated that a red 2003 Ford F-350 pickup truck pulling a construction trailer driven by 34 year old Charles J. Beerman of Coldwater, MI was traveling northbound on SR 327 approaching CR 650 N. The second vehicle involved, a green 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by 68 year old Paul M. Pence of rural Orland, IN was also traveling northbound on SR 327 approaching CR 650 N ahead of Beerman’s vehicle. There was a third uninvolved vehicle traveling between Pence and Beerman’s vehicles.
As the three vehicles were approaching CR 650 N, Beerman decided to pass the two vehicles on the left in front of him in a no passing zone. As Beerman was in the middle of making the pass, Pence began making a left hand turn to the west onto CR 650 N. The 2003 Ford F-350 then stuck the 1998 Ford Ranger broadside causing the Ford Ranger to spin counterclockwise and both vehicles came to rest off of the west side of SR 327 just north of CR 650 N
Once Pence was extricated from his vehicle, he was flown to a Fort Wayne area hospital by Samaritan helicopter in critical condition. Pence suffered head trauma and possible internal injuries. Beerman was uninjured in the crash and showed signs of impairment. Due to the extent and seriousness of the injuries involved, the Steuben County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) was activated and responded to the scene. After further investigation by the crash team, Charles Beerman was taken into custody and booked into the Steuben County Jail on the following preliminary charges.
Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury – Level 5 Felony Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction – Level 6 Felony Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person – Class A Misdemeanor Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated – Class C Misdemeanor
Beerman remains held in lieu of a $5,000.00 bond. The weather was clear and the roadway surface was dry at the time of the crash. The crash still remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office. The Steuben County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) is made of up crash reconstruction investigation and impaired driving investigation specialists from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Angola Police Department. Also assisting at the scene were the Indiana State Police.
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