For the police officer, the man’s body language was the giveaway. His combative stance and his abrupt hand movement hinted at the possibility of danger.A two-vehicle crash near South Milford this afternoon sent two people, including an on-duty LaGrange County sheriff's deputy, to area hospitals, Indiana State Police said.
At about 12:20 p.m., a car driven by Deputy Randolph J. Mellinger, 44, of rural LaGrange was stopped at a stop sign on County Road 700 South at the intersection with Indiana 3, state police at Fort Wayne said in a statement.
Police said Mellinger, who was driving normally and not on an emergency run at the time, proceeded into the intersection and struck a car driven by Phyllis Bellos, 65, of rural LaGrange.
Mellinger injured his left collarbone and arm, and was taken to a local hospital, the statement said. Bellos' passenger, Lampios Bellos, 62, of rural LaGrange suffered a head injury and was taken to a Fort Wayne hospital for treatment.
Traffic on Indiana 3 was detoured while the investigation and cleanup continued, but since has reopened, police said.
They said the county sheriff's department, EMS, Noble County EMS and South Milford firefighters assisted.
