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A truck driver was killed Sunday near Warsaw and a former area resident was injured Monday in a Marshall County traffic accident that resulted in the deaths of two people.
Allan Janowiecki, 52, of Toledo, Ohio, died instantly when the semi tractor/trailer he was driving ran into the rear of another rig on U.S. 30, at the intersection of CR 200N, west of Warsaw. The 1:26 p.m. Sunday accident resulted in the closure of the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for about eight hours. The traffic was routed around the scene via Anchorage Road.
According to an Indiana State Police report, both rigs were westbound on U.S. 30, with a semi tractor/trailer driven by David McClain, 38, Linnon, Mich., stopped at the traffic light at CR 200N. Janowiecki's rig struck McClain's rig from behind, pushing it 625 feet before coming to rest in the north ditch area. The impact knocked the rear wheels out from under McClain's trailer, and three wreckers and a crane were required to seperate Janowiecki's cab from McClain's trailer.
McClain told officials that Janowiecki was following him for about 25 or 30 miles prior to the accident and that, during that time, he had maintained a safe distance between the rigs and a constant speed.
An autopsy was performed on Janowiecki Monday to determine whether there was any medical reason prior to the collision that could have caused the accident. The results from the autopsy, released today, indicate Janowiecki died from blunt traumatic injury due to the crash. A blood-alcohol test was negative and a drug screen in pending.
McClain complained of pain and was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital and released.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department assisted in the accident investigation.
In Marshall County, two people were killed in a car-van accident on Ind. 110, southwest of Argos.
Robert E. Hawk, 63, of Leiters Ford, and Jeff D. Neace, 34, of Argos, were the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
ISP reported that Neace lost control of the car he was driving, crossed the center line and collided with the minivan Hawk was driving. The accident occurred about 9:05 p.m. Monday.
Hawk's wife, Emma Hawk, 68, of Leiters Ford, suffered leg injuries and is listed in critical condition at Parkview Memorial Hospital, Fort Wayne. Another passenger in the van, Donald Hawk, 63, of Cape Coral, Fla., and formerly of Warsaw, suffered leg and arm fractures and is in serious but staple condition at Parkview.
Assisting at the scene were the Marshall and Fulton county sheriff's departments, Argos Police Department and Fulton County Fire and Rescue. !end
