According to the accident report, at around 2:16 p.m., Meier D. Heinz, 72 of Valparaiso, was traveling north on State Road 39 in a red Toyota Land Cruiser when a 1999 Lincoln Continental driven by 34-year-old Bill J. Ortiz of Immokalee, Flo. drove through the intersection into his lane of travel. Heinz said he was unable to avoid an accident, attempting to veer to the right, and was struck by Continental. The accident caused heavy damage to the driver’s front corner of his vehicle and deployed his airbags.
Ortiz told police that he had stopped at the stop sign and looked in both directions, but failed to see the other driver. He then proceeded westbound, crossing State Road 39, when the collision took place. Ortiz was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital and cited for Operator Never Licensed.
