May 22, 2007

Coroner lists Bernard Osborn as Wells’ 4th traffic fatality

Wells County coroner Doug Cale has ruled that the death of a Bluffton man May 9 was due to injuries suffered in a traffic accident.

Bernard L. Osborn, 73, of 120 Lindenwood Dr., died of a bilateral cerebral contusion due to a motor vehicle crash, according to Cale. The injury was discovered during an autopsy performed May 10.

Osborn suffered the injury after his motorcycle was hit from behind Saturday, April 21, on Ind. 124 just west of 500W. Osborn was slowing to make a left turn onto 500W when his 2000 Honda Shadow was hit from behind by a 2005 Chevrolet Venture van driven by Joyce D. Hastings, 56, of 710 McArthur Dr. Osborn was ejected from the motorcycle.

He was known to have suffered a fractured left ankle and a right elbow in the crash and at the time was taken by Wells County EMS to Bluffton Regional Medical Center for treatment. His death occurred at Bluffton Regional Medical Center.

Osborn was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. He was ejected from the motorcycle. The helmet was not effective in preventing the fatal injury, the report noted.

With the cause of death listed as the result of a traffic accident, Osborn becomes Wells County’s fourth traffic fatality of 2007. The total surpasses last year’s total for the entire year of three.

glenw@news-banner.com

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