One dead after officer-involved crash in Warsaw

Warsaw Police and the Kosciusko County FACT Team are currently investigating a fatal crash involving a police car and a pedestrian.

The crash happened Friday just before 6:00 p.m. on Husky Trail in Warsaw just north of Harrison School.

Police say 30-year-old Winona Lake Police Officer John Leeper struck a pedestrian.

According to the report, 67-year-old Sharon Mitterling of Warsaw, was crossing the street to get her mail when she was struck by the officer’s vehicle.

Police say she was unresponsive at the scene and died while being transported to a Fort Wayne hospital.

The investigation showed that Mitterling was wearing a winter jacket with a hood pulled up over her head as she briskly walked in to the road without looking or stopping.

According to Officer Leeper, he swerved to avoid the collision but was unable to. Police say he was not responding to any call for service at the time of the collision.

As part of the investigation, Officer Leeper was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for alcohol and drug testing. Toxicology results are pending for both parties.

The investigation in ongoing at this time.

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