One person is dead following a vehicle versus bicycle crash on U.S. 421 in LaPorte County. It happened around 9:15 last night near the Purdue North Central campus in Westville, according to officials from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department. Continue reading
The LaPorte County Coroner determined that two people died this week in separate incidents due to accidental causes.
A Michigan City man found dead in his Woodling Crossing apartment on Monday night died of cardiac arrhythmia that was caused by blood loss following a fall, according to a news release. Investigators believe that 57-year-old Russell Pratt may have fallen and suffered a laceration that caused the blood loss. Neighbors initially called the LaPorte County Dispatch Center to request a welfare check on Pratt as they hadn’t seen any activity from Pratt for several days.
A LaPorte County man was found dead after his ex-wife discovered him trapped under a farm tractor in the backyard of his home on Tuesday afternoon.
LaPorte County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence in the 16000 South block of State Road 39, approximately three miles south and east of Hanna. The ex-wife of the victim had gone to check on the 78-year-old man’s well-being and found him on the property.
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner are investigating the death of a 57-year-old Michigan City man. The man, whose name has not been released by authorities, was found dead inside his apartment Monday morning. Police were let into the apartment by the manager of the Woodland Crossing Apartment Complex after neighbors had called to report inactivity.
Investigators from the sheriff’s detective bureau were called to assist at the scene, according to a sheriff’s department news release. Investigators do not have any information that foul play was involved based on evidence at the scene. However, police say they are waiting for more information from the coroner before making a final determination.
Relatives of the decedent have been notified.
Firefighters were called back to the site of a grain elevator explosion in Union Mills last night after a hot spot apparently rekindled. Smoke was spotted billowing from the silo at the Union Mills Co-Op around 8 last night. It exploded around 1:30 Monday afternoon, killing 67-year-old James Swank, who lived nearby. He was on top of the silo at the time, according to the LaPorte County coroner, who says he fell to his death. Federal, state and local investigators are still trying to determine the ignition source of the blast. That has proved challenging, as the structure is not yet safe for them to enter. Early indications are that the explosion took place near the top of the 175 foot tall structure.
A LaPorte man is jailed on a murder charge, accused of killing his wife. Officers from the LaPorte Police Department responded to a report of a burglary in progress around 12:30 this morning at a home in the 800 Block of “E” Street. When officers arrived, they found a man, identified as Joseph E. Jemiolo, 60, coming out of the house. They found out Jemiolo lived there and proceeded to search the house. That’s when they found the body of Kathy Jemiolo, 48, who was pronounced dead by the LaPorte County Coroner. Joseph Jemiolo is jailed on a preliminary charge of murder based on evidence at the scene. LaPorte Police stress the investigation is continuing.
