Morning sun blamed for accident

A Bourbon, Indiana man told police he could not see a traffic signal because of the sun and that's why he slammed into another vehicle Wednesday morning at an intersection on U.S. 30 in Warsaw.

According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department , 47-year-old Beth A. Bumgardner of Warsaw was crossing U.S. 30 on CR 200 North at about 7:43 a.m. when her Dodge Intrepid was struck in the driver's side by a Chevy Tracker travelling eastbound on U.S. 30.

The crash pinned Bumgardner in her vehicle until she could be extricated by the Warsaw Fire Department.  She was airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital with internal, neck and head injuries.

The driver of the Tracker, 24-year-old Scott A. Haines of Bourbon, told police he could not see the traffic signal because of the morning sun.  Haines said he didn't see it was red until he was in the intersection.  He tried to stop, but was unable to do so.  Haines told officers that it was an accident. 

He was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital with shoulder injuries.

Photos and video courtesy of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department