Semi Driver, Involved In Fatality, Found In Ohio

Police believe they have found the driver of the semi that was involved in the Wednesday motorcycle-semi-tractor trailer collision that killed Jason L. Rodgers, 32, of 3845 E. Lakeview Trail, Leesburg.

The driver of the semi, Robert Scott, no address provided, didn't realize his vehicle had been struck by the motorcycle - he thought he sustained a flat tire. After checking for the flat tire about a mile down the road from hearing the noise, and finding nothing, Scott then continued on his drive.

According to a Warsaw Police Department report, Thursday morning, Mike Orlowski, director of safety for Steel Transport Inc., Gary, called the WPD and advised them one of their drivers in Monroe, Ohio, contacted the company and reported damage to the rear of the semi's trailer. Scott had driven through Warsaw and the company was aware a crash occurred on U.S. 30.

WPD contacted the Monroe, Ohio, police department and requested they check out the damage on Scott's vehicle. Photos were taken and the MPD inspected the vehicle.

During a conference call between WPD, Orlowski and Scott, Scott said he left Hanna, Ind., around 10 p.m. and drove east on U.S. 30. According to the police report, Scott said while driving through Warsaw, he heard a bang and thought he blew a tire. Scott drove another mile and then pulled over. He inspected the tires, found nothing and drove on. After arriving at Worthington Steel, Scott found the damage.

WPD inspected the motorcycle's damage again to see if it matched the damage to Scott's vehicle. Scott and Orlowski came to Warsaw Thursday with the semi trailer, which was inspected. Based on the evidence, WPD believe Scott's vehicle "was the vehicle that the motorcycle, operated by Jason Rodgers, collided with," the report says.

WPD believe Scott was unaware that his trailer had been struck from behind, the report says, and police believe Rodgers was traveling at a very high rate of speed, according to witnesses.

The report indicated no charges will be filed against Scott. The investigation remains open pending toxicology results.

The accident occurred at about 11:22 p.m. Wednesday. Rodgers was traveling east on U.S. 30, between Springhill Road and Parker Street in Warsaw, without a helmet, when he hit the semi. Rodgers was transported by Multi-Township EMS to Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, where he was pronounced dead. The accident closed U.S. 30E for approximately 1-1/2 hours.