Driver suffers medical emergency, crashes into five cars

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office reports on Tuesday, June 25, around 9:21 a.m., 68-year-old Jeff Counterman, of Hudson, Ind., was driving a 2023 Ford F-150 north on S.R. 15 just north of Broadmore Drive when he suffered a medical emergency causing him to fail to maintain his lane.

The report goes on to state, Counterman crossed the center line into oncoming traffic on S.R. 15, before exiting the roadway to the west entering the grass just east of Jefferson Community Church at 58915 S.R. 15.

Counterman then ran over and destroyed a church-owned light post.

Authorities say Counterman then continued into the parking lot of the church crashing into a parked car which was parked on the east side of the lot.

Due to the impact of the crash, the first parked car crashed into the passenger side of a second car, which crashed into the passenger side of a third car, which crashed into the passenger side of a fourth car, that finally crashed into the passenger side of a fifth car, all of which were parked and unattended in parking spots of the east side.

The crash caused damage to the front end of Counterman's truck.

Counterman was not wearing a seatbelt and suffered a head injury during the crash.

He was unconscious and struggling to breathe when first responders arrived.

Counterman was treated by on-scene medics and taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for further treatment.