13 year old hospitalized and two men jailed after hit and run crash

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - A 13 year old is hospitalized and two men are in jail after a hit and run crash in Kosciusko County.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department says it happened at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Deputies and emergency responders were called to the intersection of County Road 800 North and 900 West in reference to a truck verses bicycle crash.

Officers were notified by the 911 center that two men had fled the pickup truck that was involved in the crash and were running eastbound through a field.

Sgt. Rick Shepherd was able to apprehend the first man and maintain visual contact with the second suspect who ran into a barn at 8324 West, County Road 800 North, in Nappanee.

Sheriff’s deputies surrounded the barn and with the use of a Warsaw canine unit, the second suspect was taken into custody without incident at approximately 6 p.m.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested and preliminarily charged John R. Chupp, 22, of Nappanee, with felony leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.

The passenger, Anthony Wayne Slabaugh, 23, of New Paris, was arrested and preliminarily charged with fleeing law enforcement and public intoxication.

The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office is holding both Chupp and Slabaugh without bond until late Wednesday.

Kosciusko County F.A.C.T./investigators determined that John Chupp was driving his 1997 Ford Rager pickup truck northbound on County Road 900 West at a high rate of speed.

They say he lost control and struck the 13 year old male juvenile who was riding his bicycle on the side of the road.

Witnesses also stated that Chupp disregarded a stop sign at the intersection prior to striking the bicyclist and then fled from the vehicle along with the passenger.

The 13 year old bicyclist was airlifted to South Bend Memorial hospital with a head injury and was last listed in serious but stable condition.