Warsaw Man Dies From Injuries Suffered In July 16 Accident
Warsaw Man Dies From Injuries Suffered In July 16 Accident
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Liz Shepherd-
Warsaw Man Dies From Injuries Suffered In July 16 AccidentA Warsaw man has died from injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle accident.
At 11:54 p.m. July 16, Warsaw police officers responded to a vehicle accident on East Clark Street, east of North Park Avenue.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers found Kenyan C. Bennett, 24, Warsaw, laying in the middle of the road. Bennett was being tended to by Shawn D. Hale, 22, Mentone. Responding officers initially thought Bennett had been injured in a hit-and-run accident.
Hale initially told officers that Bennett was his friend and he had found him laying in the roadway while he was driving to Bennett's house.
According to an accident report from the Warsaw Police Department, it was later discovered that Hale was driving a silver Chevrolet Cruze when he found Bennett walking home.
Hale allegedly told Bennett to jump on his vehicle and he would drive him to his house.
Surveillance video showed Hale traveling at a high rate of speed, resulting in Bennett falling off the back of Hale's vehicle.
Bennett suffered a severe head injury and was flown to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. He died at 12:50 a.m. Monday, July 25 from his injuries.
Hale was arrested on July 17 for criminal recklessness. Formal charges against Hale have not been filed yet by the county prosecutor's office.
The accident report states that Hale admitted to smoking marijuana just prior to picking Bennett up and the accident occurring. Hale submitted to a chemical test for drugs. Results of that test are pending.
WPD Public Information Officer Capt. Brad Kellar said this was an active criminal investigation.
Bennett’s full obituary appears on page 3A of Wednesday's newspaper.
