Montgomery County-A two vehicle crash, yesterday, Saturday, September 7th, 2013, afternoon, at approximately 2:54 P.M., on I-74 EB at 25 mile marker (this if the Waynetown exit) resulted in the death of two family members from Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Nathan Hampton revealed that a 2007 Peterbilt semi pulling a flat bed trailer, driven by Ruben W. Carter Junior, 46 of Goldsboro, North Carolina, loaded with steel cable and owned by TMC out of Des Moines, Iowa, was in the right lane on I-74 EB slowing down when the flat bed was hit in the rear.
Earlier traffic on I-74 had been shut down in both directions for the removal of a semi that had become disabled but all lanes had been reopened prior to this crash.
A 2000 Chevrolet Venture, driven by Max Bruner II, 42 of Crawfordsville, was EB on I-74 in the right lane when he failed to slow down for unknown reasons and hit the rear of the flat bed. Bruner and his son, Bradley Bruner, age 10, who was a third row back seat passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner of massive blunt force trauma. Max was wearing his seat belt and had to be extricated from the vehicle. Bradley was only wearing his lap belt and not the shoulder harness. Sabrina Bruner, age 9, (daughter) who was a front seat passenger also had to be extricated and was air lifted to Riley’s Hospital for Children in Indianapolis with life threatening injuries. Sabrina was wearing her seat belt. Max Bruner III, age 3, (son) back seat passenger who was buckled in a child safety seat had minor injuries and was taken to Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Crawfordsville. The Chevrolet Venture was a total loss. Family HAS been notified.
Carter was not injured and there was no load loss from the semi; there is approximately $20,000 in damages to the flat bed.
Eastbound lanes of I-74 were closed for approximately three hours for reconstruction of the crash, removal of the deceased and injured, vehicles, and clean up of the roadway.
Assisting: Indiana State Police Sergeant Jim Cody, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Master Trooper Mike Probasco, Montgomery County Coroner, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Waynetown Town Marshall, Waynetown Volunteer Fire and Crawfordsville Fire Departments, and Star Ambulance
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Wojas
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
*****Pictures are of the Chevrolet Venture*****
