Sarah Mischke, Dale Wert Obituary, Death – Authorities in Kosciusko County are piecing together the circumstances behind a tragic collision that claimed two lives late Thursday morning in Van Buren Township. The deadly crash occurred along a stretch of State Road 15, just north of Waubee Road near the town of Milford, prompting a large response from emergency personnel and law enforcement.
According to a statement released by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, the incident was reported around 11:30 a.m., when multiple 911 callers described a head-on crash involving a passenger car and a pickup truck. Deputies, firefighters, and medical responders quickly arrived at the scene, where they found extensive damage to both vehicles, indicating a severe impact.
Authorities identified the driver of the car as 19-year-old Sarah Mischke, a Milford resident. When responders reached her vehicle, it was immediately evident that her injuries were catastrophic. Despite the efforts of medics, the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office pronounced Mischke deceased at the scene. She appeared to have died upon impact, underscoring the force of the crash.
The driver of the pickup truck, 68-year-old Dale Wert from Goshen, was found nearby in critical condition. Medics worked urgently to stabilize him before transporting him by ambulance to a hospital in Fort Wayne. Though medical teams attempted to save his life, officials later confirmed that Wert died from his injuries after arriving at the hospital. His passing marked the second fatality resulting from the crash.
In the aftermath of the incident, deputies closed down the affected portion of State Road 15 to allow investigators to thoroughly examine the scene. The roadway remained inaccessible to traffic for several hours as reconstruction experts measured skid marks, inspected vehicle positions, photographed debris fields, and collected evidence that might shed light on how the crash unfolded.
At this early stage in the investigation, officials have not publicly offered a definitive explanation for what caused the two vehicles to collide head-on. Weather conditions, driver behavior, speed, lane position, and potential mechanical failures are among the factors that investigators commonly evaluate in serious crashes. The sheriff’s department noted that more details will likely emerge as evidence is analyzed and witness statements are gathered.
The case is now being handled by the Kosciusko County Fatal Accident Crash Team (FACT), a specialized unit trained to investigate collisions involving serious injury or loss of life. Their work includes reconstructing the events leading up to the crash, reviewing all physical evidence, and consulting with forensic experts if necessary. The FACT team will ultimately prepare a full report outlining their findings, which may take several weeks to complete given the complexity of the case.
Community members in both Milford and Goshen have been left mourning the sudden loss of two local residents. Mischke, only 19, was at the very beginning of adulthood, and news of her death has sent shockwaves through her hometown. Wert, at 68, was known in his community as well, and his unexpected passing has also prompted an outpouring of condolences.
Officials have not indicated whether toxicology testing or mechanical inspections are being conducted, though such procedures are standard as part of routine fatal crash investigations. Authorities emphasized that they are committed to determining the full sequence of events to understand what led to the devastating collision.
For now, the sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who drove through the area around the time it happened to contact investigators with any information that could assist in the inquiry. The investigation remains active, with updates expected as more details become available.
