Bicyclist hit by vehicle after disregarding stop sign Thursday afternoon

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office reports medics in an ambulance from the Wakarusa Fire Department and EMS witnessed a bicyclist get hit by a vehicle at C.R. 3 and C.R. 32 in Wakarusa on Thursday around 12:10 p.m.

The ambulance was traveling south on C.R. 3, north of the intersection when medics witnessed the crash.

The report states 36-year-old Kyle R. Stiffney, of Goshen, was riding his bike west on C.R. 32 approaching C.R. 3

A 2004 Hummer H2, driven by 37-year-old Dmitry G. Leoniv, of Osceola, was traveling north on C.R. 3 approaching C.R. 32.

Stiffney is said to have run the stop sign at the two-way stop intersection, which requires east and west traffic to stop.

Stiffney then rode his bike into the path of Leoniv's Hummer, where he was struck by the front driver's side of the vehicle.

Stiffney was thrown from his bike onto a grassy area where he hit an embankment. Stiffney was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

He suffered a head injury, sustained scrapes on his legs, and had complaints of all-over pain.

Wakarusa EMS personnel immediately stabilized Stiffney for transport to Memorial Hospital.

The medics reported excessive speed was not a factor on the part of Leoniv.

Due to Stiffney’s injuries, deputies say he will be issued a written warning for disregarding a stop sign.

Leoniv submitted to blood draw for drug/alcohol testing with results pending at the Indiana State Department of Toxicology.