Failure to yield leads to four-vehicle crash in Elkhart County

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the intersection of C.R. 35 and S.R. 120 for a multi-vehicle crash around 2:34 p.m. on Tuesday.

The report states a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by 73-year-old Thomas A. Deneau of Bloomingdale, Mich., was traveling north on C.R. 35 south of the intersection of C.R. 35 and S.R. 120 when he stopped at the stop sign on the south side of the intersection.

Authorities say Deneau then failed to yield to the right of way and attempted to continue north through the intersection on C.R. 35, where he entered the path of a 2013 Dodge Journey, driven by 65-year-old John F. Mullen of LaGrange, who was traveling west on S.R. 120 east of the intersection.

Mullen did not have enough time to stop and avoid the crash and struck the passenger side of Deneau.

The force of the crash caused Deneau to turn and continue to travel forward off the roadway northwest of the intersection.

Mullen was turned north due to the impact of the crash and continued to travel north into the front end of a 2018 Ford F150, driven by 60-year-old Robbie D. Grove of Middlebury, who was stopped on C.R. 35 at the intersection attempting to continue south on C.R. 35.

Grove was then forced backward into the front end of a 2021 Ram 1500, driven by 53-year-old Joseph J. Covyeou of Goshen.

Mullen was treated on the scene by emergency medical services and taken to Parkview Hospital, in LaGrange

Deneau's passenger, Karl Tomion, was treated on the scene by emergency medical services and taken to Elkhart General Hospital for further treatment.

No citations were given at the scene.

All occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.