ANGOLA, IN - Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that occurred midday Wednesday.

At approximately 12:48 p.m., Steuben County Communications received a 911 call reference an accident near the 2300 block of West Orland Road, near Crooke Lake.

Responding officers located Michael L. Bacholl, 40, of Angola, unresponsive in the roadway.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Bacholl was traveling east on West Orland Road. He was thrown from the ORV after making an abrupt turn. Bacholl was not wearing a helmet or any other protective riding gear.

Bacholl was airlifted from the scene by Parkview Samaritan to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Ft. Wayne with severe head injuries.

The accident remains under investigation but drugs and/or alcohol are not believed to be a factor in this accident.

Conservation Officers were assisted on scene by the Angola Fire Department, Angola Police Department, Indiana State Police, Parkview Samaritan, Steuben County EMS, and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department.

Conservation Officers would like to remind everyone to always wear a helmet and protective riding gear when operating an off-road vehicle (ORV). For information on off-road vehicle laws and safe operating procedures, as well as the legality of operating off-road vehicles on public roadways, please visit https://www.offroad-ed.com/in/handbook/ and https://www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/4431.htm.