Indiana State Police has released information from its preliminary investigation of a fatal accident on Interstate 70 near New Castle on Tuesday morning.
Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Doug Snyder and the Indiana State Police – Pendleton Crash Reconstruction Team indicated that a red 2008 Dodge Ram, being driven by Troy K. Lemons, 47, of San Mateo, California, was traveling eastbound in the right lane of I-70 near mile-marker 125 in Henry County.
Lemons’ vehicle had a large trailer in-tow, which was loaded with construction equipment.
While traveling eastbound shortly before 8 a.m., Lemons’ vehicle collided with the rear of a Great Dane box trailer being pulled by a white 2009 Freightliner semi-tractor driven by Abdulrazak H. Nur, 55, of Columbus. Ohio. After impact, Lemons’ vehicle became disabled in the right lane and caught fire.
Emergency personnel responded quickly to the scene. The fire from Lemons’ vehicle was quickly extinguished by deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office upon their arrival. The sheriff’s office was joined on scene by the Spiceland Fire Department, Henry County EMS, and ISP troopers.
Lemons was pronounced dead at the scene by the Henry County Coroner’s Office. Lemons and two passengers within the vehicle, Harry D. Stout Jr., 33, of El Reno, Oklahoma, and Cody C. Callahan, 28, of Joplin, Missouri, had to be extricated.
Stout and Callahan were then transported to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis via ambulance. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Nur was not injured in the crash.
At the time of the crash, a dense fog had encompassed the area, which provided limited visibility. Investigators also believe unsafe speed was a factor in this crash.
Notification has been made to immediate family members of the deceased. No criminal charges have been filed related to the crash at this time. The investigation is ongoing, pending autopsy and toxicology results.
ISP would like to remind motorists to use caution when they encounter limited visibility or otherwise unsafe conditions on the roadway. Motorists should reduce their speed as well as their following distance as it relates to vehicles in front of them in an effort to avoid collisions such as this.
Assisting at the crash scene were ISP Lieutenant Josh Watson, Sergeant Dave Poynter, Master Trooper Eric Thumb, Crash Reconstruction Investigators Master Trooper Mike Bradbury and Trooper Mark Hanna, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Henry County EMS, Spiceland Fire Department, Henry County Coroner’s Office and Davis Towing and Recovery.