Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The driver of a semi tractor/trailer that allegedly struck a state trooper's car last month in Kosciusko County has been identified and the case has been forwarded to the prosecutor for review.
On July 2 - one day after a new Indiana law took effect that requires motorists approaching an emergency vehicle to slow down and, when possible on a four-lane highway, to move to the lane not adjacent to the emergency vehicle - Indiana State Police Master Trooper Mark Hodges' car was struck east of Pierceton.
The accident occurred about 7:40 a.m. on the westbound side of U.S. 30. Hodges, who was seated in his squad car, suffered minor injuries and his car sustained about $5,000 in damage. There also was damage to the vehicle of the motorist Hodges had stopped. After the accident, the semi rig continued westbound without stopping.
An eyewitness to the crash identified the vehicle as an Overnight Transportation semi tractor pulling two trailers. ISP, with the cooperation of Overnight Transportation and Illinois State Police, identified and located the trailer suspected of being involved in the accident. The trailer was in an Overnight Transportation terminal in South Holland, Ill., and physical evidence was recovered that is believed to link it to the damage caused to the police car. The evidence was submitted to the ISP laboratory for comparison and examination.
The driver of the semi was interviewd by ISP detectives and the matter forwarded to the Kosciusko County prosecutor's office. A decision whether to file charges against the driver will come from that office sometime next week, according to Prosecutor Chuck Waggoner.
