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PIERCETON -ÊA pair of accidents just moments apart on U.S. 30 near Pierceton led to the death of a Huntington man Wednesday morning.
James L. Stahl, 69, of Huntington, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on U.S. 30 near CR 650E after his body was found 70 feet from the crash site.
Stahl was traveling westbound on U.S. 30 when he hit a patch of ice, lost control of his Ford Ranger pickup, slid into the median and struck a guardrail. Indiana State Police officials do not believe Stahl was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Just after Stahl's collision, a Ford Explorer Sport Track driven by Peter E. Darrigan, 36, of Rockford, Ohio, lost control on the icy road and struck Stahl's vehicle. Darrigan was transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital, treated and released.
Police are still trying to determine if Stahl walked away from the crash scene and died from injuries suffered in his crash or if he was hit during the second crash.
Both collisions remain under investigation by the Indiana State Police. The Indiana Department of Transportation, Multi-Township EMS and the Pierceton Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the accidents is asked to contact Trooper Brooks Shirk at the Indiana State Police Bremen Post at 800-552-2959 or 574-546-4900.
