Tuesday, May 29th, 2007
Teen killed in accident
By Margie Wuebker
A 14-year-old Indiana boy died Saturday morning while riding dirt bikes with family members along Township Line Road, north of U.S. 33, in Mercer County.
Austin Partin, 14, of Fort Wayne, was pronounced dead on arrival at Van Wert County Hospital, according to reports from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.
The mishap occurred at 11:43 a.m. near the St. Marys River. Partin had been riding in a farm field and crossed Township Line Road intending to enter another field. He apparently failed to see the northbound 2004 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck driven by Billy Perry, 61, 207 South St., Rockford.
"Perry was in the process of crossing a bridge and did not see the dirt bike rider until it was too late," Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey told The Daily Standard.
An unidentified caller told 911 dispatchers the boy was not breathing and CPR was under way. Emergency room personnel in Van Wert were unable to revive the youth who had been wearing a helmet.
"I understand he was riding ahead of family members," Grey added. "They were apparently here enjoying a weekend, which included riding dirt bikes through the countryside."
Also responding to the scene were Rockford firefighters, a Rockford unit of Mercer County Emergency Medical Services, Van Wert County Sheriff's deputies and the Van Wert County Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The accident remains under investigation with the final report to be forwarded to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office for review as is the case in all accidents involving a fatality.
Partin's death marks the fifth traffic fatality of the year in Mercer County.
