Accident involving on duty officer sends 2 to hospital

LAGRANGE, COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - The Indiana State Police are investigating a two car accident that occurred Friday involving an on duty police officer on State Road 3 in South Milford.

According to investigators, LaGrange County Sheriff's Deputy Randolph J. Mellinger, 44, was stopped at a stop sign on County Road 700 S. at the intersection with State Road 3.

Mellinger drove into the intersection and struck a vehicle driven by Phyllis Bellos, 65, who was traveling southbound on State Road 3.

Mellinger was not on an emergency run at the time he struck Bellos's car.

Both Mellinger and Bellos' passenger, Lampios Bellos, 62, were transported to hospitals for their injuries. Bellos suffered a head injury and Mellinger suffered injuries to both his left collar bone and arm.

State Road 3 was closed and traffic was detoured around the area as emergency crews conducted their investigation, but it has since been reopened.