Motorcyclist dead after 5-vehicle crash in LaGrange County

LAGRANGE, Ind. (WISH) — A 67-year-old man was fatally injured in a five-vehicle crash in LaGrange County Wednesday, according to Indiana State Police (ISP).

Around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, ISP troopers responded to a crash involving five vehicles on U.S. 20 near County Road 350 West in LaGrange, Indiana.

Investigators believe a silver Kia, driven by Crystal Williams, 41, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was stopped on U.S. 20 westbound near County Road 350 West. A blue Harley Davidson motorcycle, driven by David Zinkie, 67, of LaGrange, stopped behind the silver Kia. Behind the Harley Davidson motorcycle, a maroon Chrysler Pacifica, driven by Melinda Smith, 35, of LaGrange, was stopped.

Construction work in that area had traffic slowed to a stop.

While they sat stopped on U.S. 20, a semitractor trailer, driven by Charles Allen, 42, of Wawaka, Indiana, was westbound and did not stop, hitting the maroon Chrysler Pacifica, pushing it in the Harley Davidson motorcycle. As a result of the collision, the maroon Chrysler Pacifica was also pushed into oncoming traffic, hitting a white Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck. The white pickup truck was driven by Ronald Warren, 46, of Knox, Indiana.

As a result of the crash, Smith and Warren were injured. They were transported to local hospital, where they were treated and released. Zinkie, the driver of the motorcycle, was seriously injured. He was airlifted to Parkview Regional Medical Center, where he died from his injuries shortly after he arrived. Zinkie was identified by the Allen County Coroner’s Office, and his family has been notified.

This incident is still under investigation by Indiana State Police.

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