The body of Thomas Haskins was a day away from being cremated – and his closest kin didn’t even know he was dead.An off-duty police officer and his wife riding a Goldwing motorcycle in Kosciusko County late Thursday morning were ejected in a crash on U.S. 30 west of Pierceton. The woman died from her injuries
Paula M. Harwood, 39, of Bourbonnais, Ill., was in critical condition with a severe head injury, and the county fatal crash investigation team issued a statement saying she was likely struck by the Honda motorcycle as it was flipping and rotating during the crash. She was flown to a hospital in Fort Wayne in critical condition and died at 3:32 p.m. Thursday, a statement issued Friday said.
Her husband, Thomas C. Harwood, 44, sustained serious injuries to his head and extremities, including extensive road-rash, police said. He was listed in serious but stable condition Friday morning at a Fort Wayne hospital, police said.
The crash happened about 11:45 a.m. near County Road 450 East, and police said the rear wheel blew, causing the cycle to skip and then flip on U.S. 30.
Neither rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, the statement said.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Pierceton Fire Department, Multi-Township EMS, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and the Indiana State Police assisted at the scene.
