Passenger killed in Elkhart Co. accident

ELKHART, Ind. –A passenger in a vehicle that crashed Tuesday night in Elkhart County died from injuries sustained in the accident.

The accident happened on Old US Highway 22, just west of Elk Park Drive at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

According to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, 16-year-old Nichole Besemer was driving a 1999 Doge Caravan east on Old US Highway 33 when she struck a utility pole. The pole snapped in half.

Besemer was taken to the hospital for a contusion to her forehead and pain in her hip and pelvis.

Her passenger, Trent Forte, was taken to the hospital for treatment of a possibly lacerated liver and internal injuries.

Forte died Wednesday morning.

According to deputies, Besemer was driving without a license.