Man dies after being brain dead from Noblesville crash

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A man has died after he was struck by a vehicle while doing surveying work on State Road 37 last week.

Derek Knowling, 31, was officially pronounced brain-dead June 24, and remained on life support to donate have his organs harvested. The Marion County Coroner pronounced him dead on Monday.

Knowling worked at Certified Engineering, Inc. Company President John Wilson said Knowling started working there in February.

“We know life goes on,” Wilson said. “We’re all trying to do our job, but it’s still kind of feels like it’s not true, you know. It’s just shock, I guess.”

A YouCaring page has been set up to help his family.

According to the page, Knowling was from Roachdale and was married with two kids, a two-year-old and a four-year-old.

“One of the partners here just told him, a week or so prior, how glad we were he came aboard, and how well he was fitting in,” Wilson said.

Thursday, June 23, Knowling was doing surveying work on the side of State Road 37 with another man, Brian Rees, when a 72-year-old veered to the side of the road and hit the SUV the two men were standing outside of.

Noblesville officers aren’t sure what caused the crash, but Wilson said Rees described the moments before. “[Rees] was standing there, and organizing his notes and said that the truck just hit without warning,” Wilson said. “He heard no skids or anything.”

Both men were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Wilson said Rees is recovering at home. “He’s fortunate he didn’t lose his legs,” Wilson said. “But he’s going to be Ok.”

Until officers are able to determine a cause, they’re not able to determine if any charges will be filed.