May 15, 2007

One killed, two injured in rollover crash southeast of Ossian; Driver flees scene

Twenty-year-old Rolando Soto of Decatur became Wells County’s third traffic accident fatality of 2007 after he was ejected from a vehicle on 750N southeast of Ossian Monday evening.

Soto, of 694-17th St., was pronounced dead at the scene by Wells County Coroner Doug Cale of blunt force trauma to the head and chest.

Soto was a passenger in a 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada driven by Hector Seba, 28, of 1108 Cambridge Ct., Decatur. Seba suffered minor injuries in the crash, including a broken finger, but took off running toward a woods located southeast of the intersection.

The other two passengers in the vehicle, Moises Escribano, 27, of 1108 Cambridge Ct., and a man only known as Willie Comacho, also reportedly attempted to run from the scene. Comacho made it about 250 feet further out into the field, but collapsed. Escribano attempted to get into the vehicle of a witness to the accident, but discovered it was locked. He then collapsed to the road.

Both men were airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. “Escribano suffered abdominal trauma, but he was released from the hospital last night,” said Deputy Kurt Powell of the Wells County Sheriff’s Department, who along with fellow Deputy Chad Bradley spent all night investigating the accident.

The man identified as Comacho suffered a spinal injury as well as head and chest trauma. Although his injuries were not believed to be life threatening, he was listed in critical condition at 9:30 a.m. today at Parkview.

All four men were believed to be in the United States illegally and that is why it is believed that Seba ran from the scene. Alcohol is also believed to be a factor in the crash and may have caused Seba to flee the scene, said Powell.

The 6:15 p.m. accident was witnessed by two men conducting a youth baseball practice at nearby Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

“The witnesses reported seeing the Bravada roll several times,” said Powell. The accident occurred about 3,000 feet east of the church, close to 700E. The two men drove down to the accident scene to find out if anyone was injured. When one of the witnesses mentioned calling 911, that’s apparently when the men tried to run away.

While his two passengers were being treated by medics at the scene and then being airlifted by Samaritan and Lutheran Air to Parkview, Seba was successfully eluding police. Sheriff’s deputies, Ossian police and Indiana State Police established a perimeter around the woods where Seba ran, but did not find him. They notified neighbors and checked the outbuildings of the farms surrounding the accident scene in an attempt to locate Seba. However, the search was unsuccessful.

The Ossian Fire Department, which had been called to the scene to assist medics and provide a landing zone in the field for the helicopters, also provided police with the use of a thermal imaging camera to scan the woods and surrounding areas.

Adams County police were notified of the accident (actually it was Adams County that received the original 911 call) and of Seba’s description, which was provided by the witnesses and one of the men injured in the accident.

An Adams County Sheriff’s deputy located Seba walking along U.S. 224 at 2:20 a.m. today near 200W just west of Decatur. Seba allegedly tried to run from the officer, but was quickly apprehended and placed under arrest.

Seba is facing multiple charges including operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 or greater causing death, with a prior conviction within the past five years of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08. He has also been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident, leaving the scene of a serious bodily injury accident and forgery.

The forgery charge stems from a prior encounter lawmen had here with Seba dating back to 2004. In December of that year he was arrested here on a charge of .08 and operating a motor vehicle while never having been issued a driver’s license. At that time, Seba gave his identification as Manuel Escribano and was arrested, booked, tried and convicted under that alleged false identity. In 2005, he was arrested here again under the same alleged false identity when he violated his probation.

A 10:30 a.m. appearance was slated in Wells Circuit Court, however the initial hearing had to be delayed because the court was unaware that Seba was unable to speak English. A translator was being contacted.

The accident took so long to investigate, according to Powell, because none of the men claimed to speak English and were not completely cooperative at first.

Seba was in possession of a driver’s license, but it was issued in Mexico.

None of the men were wearing seat belts. Soto was believed to be the only person ejected in the crash. It is unknown if the vehicle rolled over him. The witnesses reported Soto at first was experiencing labored breathing at the scene, however his breathing stopped shortly afterward.

Soto’s death brings the Wells County traffic fatality equal to all of the traffic fatalities in 2006 when three people died in accidents for the entire year. This year, Jeffrey Frauhiger, 32, of rural Bluffton, died after he was ejected from his pickup truck in a single-vehicle accident on County Home Rd. Sterling Lewis, 47, rural Bluffton, suffered fatal injuries after his van left U.S. 224 and slammed head-on into a tree in front of a residence west of 300W.

Both of those accidents occurred in March.

glenw@news-banner.com

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