Marshall County – Earlier today the Indiana State Police responded to a personal injury crash that occurred around 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of US 31 and US 6 in La Paz.  The crash sent one man to the hospital by helicopter.

Preliminary police reports indicate that the driver of an east bound Ford pickup truck, Leroy Piper, 82, of Valparaiso, drove through a red light at the intersection on US 6 and US 31, and into the path of a semi tractor.  The Volvo semi tractor was being driven by John Drummond, 60, of Mishawaka.  According to witnesses Drummond was traveling west on US 6 attempting to turn south on a green arrow onto US 31 when Piper ran a red light and struck the passenger’s side of Drummond’s semi. 

Piper had to be extricated from his vehicle by rescue personnel before he was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for his injuries.  Piper sustained lacerations to his head and arms but was last listed in stable condition.  Drummond was not injured in the crash.

The state police were assisted on the scene by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, La Paz Fire and EMS and Plymouth EMS.