Roadside repairman killed in crash on I-74
LIZTON, Ind. (WISH) — A 20-year-old Lebanon man was killed Wednesday afternoon while doing roadside repair on a disabled truck along Interstate 74, Indiana State Police said.
Roadside repairman Clinton Simmons died at the scene.
Emergency crews were called just after 5 p.m. to eastbound I-74 near State Road 39 in Hendricks County. The crash involved Simmons’ repair truck, a box truck and a semi.
Police said they think the box truck got a flat tire and became disabled on the right shoulder. Simmons was called to assist the box truck. The repair truck was parked in front of the disabled box truck. Simmons had completed the repair and was putting his tools back into his truck when an eastbound semitractor-trailer drove onto the shoulder and struck the back of the parked box truck, pushing the box truck into the repair truck and striking Simmons.
Steven Sanchez of Indianapolis was driving the semi. He became trapped inside it during the crash. He was later taken to St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital by helicopter.
The driver of the box truck was not injured.
“Troopers believe the driver of the semi may have fallen asleep prior to leaving the roadway and striking the box truck,” said a news release from state police. “Alcohol was not believed to be a factor but a blood draw for alcohol was administered as standard protocol with all fatal crashes.”
No criminal charges have been filed.