Police identify man who died in fatal Wakarusa accident
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Elkhart County Sheriff's Department police investigate a two-vehicle accident on C.R. 7 and C.R. 40 Wednesday, July 11, 2012 in Wakarusa, Ind. One person died and two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.(Truth Photo by Sharon Hernandez)

Elkhart County Sheriff's Department police investigate a two-vehicle accident on C.R. 7 and C.R. 40 Wednesday, July 11, 2012 in Wakarusa, Ind. One person died and two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.(Truth Photo by Sharon Hernandez)


Joseph Richard, 71, died when his vehicle collided with another vehicle at about 7:30 a.m., at the intersection of C.R. 7 and C.R. 40.
Richard was driving south on C.R. 7 and stopped at the two-way stop sign on C.R. 40 and pulled into the intersection. A vehicle driven by Erin Chupp, 19, of Goshen, struck Richard’s vehicle on the driver’s side between the wheels, according to a report from the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.
Richard’s vehicle slid off the road and rolled on its roof, entrapping him and a passenger, Thomas Klaer, 72, of Mishawaka. Chupp’s vehicle spun slightly to the left and came to rest in the roadwayto the west of the intersection.
Klaer was transported to Memorial Hospital of South Bend with broken ribs. Chupp was transported to Elkhart General Hospital with minor injuries to her left leg. Both Klaer and Chupp were in stable condition this afternoon.
Richard was not wearing a seat belt when the accident occurred. Toxicology tests were completed for Richard and Klaer, and results are pending. No enforcement action has been taken.











