Putnam County—At 12:36 this afternoon, Indiana State Police and Putnam County emergency agencies responded to a three vehicle collision in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 30 mile marker. The crash involved two tractor-trailer combinations and one passenger car. The driver of one of the tractor-trailers was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Preliminary investigation revealed westbound traffic was slowing for a construction zone that began near the 29mm and was requiring traffic to move into the right driving lane. A westbound tractor-trailer failed to slow and struck another tractor-trailer in the rear forcing that tractor-trailer into a passenger car. The driver of the tractor-trailer that failed to stop was pronounced deceased at the scene. Both tractor-trailer combinations were unloaded at time of the crash.
The deceased male driver is believed to be from Indiana, but positive identification has not been made at this time. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow and the name will be released as soon as the positive ID has been made. This could take a few days.
The driver of the yellow Chevrolet Cavalier was Thomas Scorg age 59, of Parker, Colorado. The driver of the tractor-trailer struck in the rear was Arron Smith, age 50, of Dillsboro, Indiana. Both Scorg and Smith were taken to Putnam County Hospital for what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
The crash is being investigated by ISP Master Trooper Troy Cobb. Crash reconstruction is being done by ISP Trooper Brian Thomas and commercial vehicle inspections of the tractor-trailers are being done by ISP Master Trooper Kent Winstead and ISP Senior Trooper Byron Goodman. Assisting were multiple troopers from the Putnamville Post, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Coroner Dave Brown, Putnam County EMS and Cloverdale and Reelsville Fire Departments.
The westbound lanes have been closed since the crash with westbound traffic diverted onto US 231 north to US 40 West. The westbound passing lane is expected to be open around 5:00pm, but will be a few hours for opening of the westbound driving lane.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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