Full Notification

January 22, 2016

Warsaw Police and the Kosciusko County FACT Team are investigating a fatal crash involving a police car and a pedestrian. On Friday, January 22, 2016, at approximately 5:58 p.m., emergency units responded to Husky Trail, north of Harrison School, after a fully marked Winona Lake police car struck a pedestrian.
The female pedestrian was unresponsive at the scene and died while being transported to a Fort Wayne hospital. The victim was identified as 67 year old, Sharon Mitterling, of Warsaw.
The Winona Lake officer driving the police car was identified as 30 year old patrol officer, John Leeper, of Warsaw.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Mitterling was walking down her driveway and was crossing Husky Trail, to get her mail, when she was struck by the southbound police car. Officer Leeper observed 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. Officer Leeper stated that he swerved to avoid the collision, but was unable to. Officer Leeper was driving to work to start his shift, and was not responding to any call for service.
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 continues by Warsaw Police and Kosciusko County FACT.
Warsaw Police were assisted by, Winona Lake Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Lutheran EMS Kosciusko, Warsaw Wayne Fire Territory, Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office, and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.

Kip Shuter
Lieutenant
Public Information Officer
Warsaw Police Department