Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ETNA GREEN - An Etna Green man was killed Monday night when the pickup he was driving struck a semi tractor/trailer as it was being backed into a driveway along Ind. 19 near Etna Green.
Charles "Tom" Lozier, 36, of East Pleasant Street, was pronounced dead at the scene from massive head injuries.
Authorities were called to the accident scene on Ind. 19, east of CR 1000W, north of Etna Green, at 8:16 p.m.
Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said Lozier was westbound on Ind. 19 when he ran into the semi rig that was across the road. The driver of the semi, Ray Mast, 35, of Ind. 19N, Etna Green, was not injured.
Rovenstine said Lozier's pickup first hit the front tire of the semi cab, then veered into the side of the trailer.
An Indiana Department of Transportation inspection of the truck was expected last night, but the results were not available this morning. Rovenstine said it appeared the rig had proper lights and reflectors.
Alcohol tests - customary in fatal traffic accidents - were performed. Those results were not available, but alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident.
This is the eighth traffic fatality of 2000 on Kosciusko County roads. The number of traffic deaths is down significantly this year compared with last year, when there were 19 people killed on Kosciusko County roads as of Sept. 22, 1999.
