Neighbors jump into action after car crashes in Elkhart

NOW: Neighbors jump into action after car crashes in Elkhart
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“It’s just… I feel sorry for him, for his family and I’m sure he was a nice guy,” said Bartolo Gonzales, a resident of Elkhart.

Those living in the near north side neighborhood of Elkhart are reacting after they say a car crashed just feet away from their front doorsteps.

“I was just sitting in my chair and I heard a bunch of noise like semi-trucks, they always come through here to go to Big C and that’s what I thought it was. So I just happen to look out and I seen the truck,” said Gonzales.

Elkhart police say the driver, a 59-year-old male driving a maroon mini-van was heading South on Cassopolis Street around 8:00 a.m. Friday. That’s when the vehicle left the roadway and struck this  fire hydrant and utility pole causing the mini-van to roll onto the driver’s side.

“There was probably about seven people down there and they was trying to tip the truck over… and then the one guy broke the back window to get in and was shaking the guy so,” said Gonzales.

But when police got there, it was too late.

“We had to force entry into the vehicle, there was entrapment, at which point we found that the individual inside was deceased,” said Seargeant Chris Snyder with the Elkhart Police Department.

“He wasn’t responsive, he wasn’t moving,” said Gonzales.

At this time, police say they have an idea of what caused it.

“Just by some of the witness statements, by the way he was driving, there may have been a medical condition that led up to the crash,” said Snyder.

Gonzales says this is a first for him in this neighborhood and he hopes it’s the last.

“I’ve been here almost a year and that’s the first time I’ve seen it. It’s not a good feeling. It’s not nice,” said Gonzales.

Sergeant Snyder says there is no more information to be released at this time. They are still investigating to determine the exact cause whether or not it was in fact caused by medical issues. Stay with ABC57 News for the latest on any more information released.

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