From an ISP press release
This morning Master Trooper Paul Harrison and the Indiana State Police Pendleton Post Crash Reconstruction Team investigated a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred on westbound I-70 near the 149 mile-marker in Wayne County.
Emergency personnel were notified at 9:15 a.m., Wednesday morning, November 11, of the crash involving a semi tractor/trailer and a passenger car. Wayne County Sheriff’s Department units were first to arrive; however, the Indiana State Police assumed the investigation at the request of the Wayne County Sheriff.
The preliminary crash investigation revealed a 2021 Peterbilt semi tractor, pulling a flatbed trailer, was westbound in the left lane of I-70. The semi, driven by Rodney P. Williams, 45, of Camden, New Jersey, stopped suddenly in the left lane on the back side of a hillcrest. Immediately after the semi stopped, a 2013 Ford Focus, driven by James Dean Alcorn, 48, of Richmond struck the rear trailer of the semi, pinning the Ford under the trailer.
Responding units determined that Mr. Alcorn had succumbed to his injuries. He was later formally pronounced deceased by the Wayne County Coroner. Mr. Williams was not injured as a result of the crash.
Witnesses stated they flagged down the semi, driven by Williams, after he had lost a portion of his load while traveling on I-70, which resulted in him stopping in the left lane.
Both westbound lanes of I-70 were closed for more than four hours due to the investigation and cleanup.
Assisting at the scene were Indiana State Police Master Trooper Kyle West, Sergeant Bob Cross, Master Trooper Coley McCutcheon, Trooper Mark Hanna, Master MCI Kevin Bowsman, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond Fire and EMS, Pardo’s Towing & Recovery, Patton’s Towing, INDOT, and the Wayne County Coroner’s Office.
Notification has been made to the immediate family members of the deceased. As per Indiana law, drivers involved in serious injury or fatal crashes, must submit to a toxicology test. The investigation is ongoing, pending autopsy and toxicology results. There is no further information to release at this time.