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Man loses leg in life-threatening tubing crash on Lake Shafer

Posted at 12:06 PM, May 31, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-31 17:21:10-04

MONTICELLO, Ind. -- A Lafayette man lost a leg Monday when he and a tube he was riding collided with a dock support pole on Lake Shafer.

The crash happened around 8 p.m. Memorial Day at the lake, located near Monticello, Indiana.

Department of Natural Resources officials said Jason Mullendore, 31, of Lafayette, was being pulled on a tube by a 1993 Maxum ski boat when he and the tube collided with the dock support.

Mullendore sustained a life-threatening leg injury and lost a large amount of blood. He was transported to IU White Hospital by ambulance, and then flown to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where he underwent emergency surgery.

Due to the severity of his injury, Mullendore lost the lower portion of one of his legs.

During the investigation into the crash, authorities were told a 24-year-old girl had been driving the boat. It was later determined that all of the adults in the boat fabricated their story about who was driving.

As a result, officers arrested 59-year-old John Mentel, of Monticello, and 23-year-old Cole Hartman, of Delphi, for misdemeanor false informing.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges or arrests are possible.