Elkhart County – Sunday evening troopers from the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post responded to a crash on the Indiana Toll Road near the Elkhart and St. Joseph County line. Troopers arrived on scene at 10:30 p.m. to find a single east bound vehicle that ran off the south side of the road and struck a guardrail. The impact caused the car to flip several times before coming to a rest in a ditch.
The violence of the collision trapped the driver of the 2001 Buick inside her car and ejected the two passengers. The driver of the car, Linda A. Pohto, 59, of Fairport Harbor, Ohio was killed in the crash. Also killed in the crash was Viola M. Pohto, 88, of Fairport Harbor, Ohio. Eric R. Pohto, 31, of Denver, Colorado suffered severe injuries in the accident but is expected to recover. He was taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital.
A witness to the crash told police that just prior to the accident the car had passed him at a high rate of speed before colliding with the guardrail. At this point in the investigation state police have not found any evidence that alcohol or drugs were involved. However, initial findings are pointing toward the possibility that the driver may have fallen asleep.
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