|
| Sgt. Chad Hill (L) and Lt. Chris McKeand of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department comfort each other at the scene of their fellow-officer's fatal accident. Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union |
 |
 |
| Sgt. Jeffery Shaw |
|
County Officer Dies In Crash
Jen Gibson
Times-Union Staff Writer
SILVER LAKE - A two-vehicle crash on Ind. 14 claimed the life of an 11-year veteran of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Thursday afternoon.
Sgt. Jeffery B. Shaw, 40, of Warsaw, was on patrol around 2:47 p.m. Thursday on Ind. 14 near Silver Lake when a 1994 GMC straight truck with a load of scaffolding, driven by Steven L. Byerly, 53, Fort Wayne, struck his vehicle near the intersection with CR 100E.
According to the Indiana State Police, Byerly drove partially off the south side of the road, overcorrected and crossed the center line, hitting Shaw's patrol car, a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria.
Shaw's vehicle was hit in the driver door, and both vehicles caught fire shortly after the impact.
A witness to the crash helped Byerly out of the truck, but Shaw was trapped and had to be extricated by members of fire departments who responded to the scene.
Shaw was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma.
Byerly also was taken to KCH, where he was treated for a minor head injury, then released.
Shaw began his law enforcement career in July 1994, when he was hired as a jail officer in the work release department. Four years later in July 1998, he was hired as a merit deputy.
"This is is a big loss to this department, but an even bigger loss to his family. It's a huge loss to them," said Kosciusko County Sheriff Rocky Goshert. "It is also a loss to our community. (Shaw) was one of the most caring people, and he did things right. We are losing a fine officer. Everybody loses in this."
Shaw, a Warsaw native, is survived by his wife, Angela, and two children, a 9-year-old son, Nicholas, and a 7-year-old daughter, Isabella.
"(Shaw) was a really good officer, but the priority of his life was his family," said KCSD Sgt. Chad Hill. "His wife and his kids always came first. He was so family-oriented. We can all take that away from him and the way he lived his life."
Shaw is the third officer from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department to lose his life in the line of duty. Joseph Bauer was killed in a traffic accident in December 1954, and Phillip Hochstetler was shot while responding to a call in June 1994.
The accident remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police. Although police do no suspect illegal drug use or alcohol are factors in the crash, a routine blood draw was taken from both drivers. Results of blood tests are not available at this time.
|
|
.jpg)
