Truck Accidents 360 Newswire

VALPARAISO, IN – One person is dead after a semi truck accident Friday, May 28, 2010, in Porter County, Indiana. The collision between the 18 wheeler and a passenger car occurred in the city of Valparaiso at the intersection of Indiana 49 and Vale Park Road, reportedly one of the most dangerous intersections in the state. The accident area is in the far north corner of the state, about 60 miles southwest of South Bend, IN and about 53 miles southeast of Chicago, IL.

At around 11:30 a.m. Friday morning, 79 year old Adele Nielson of Grovertown, IN was in her gold-colored passenger car, driving east on Vale Park Road. At the intersection with Indiana 49 the traffic light for her lane turned red and she came to a stop. At the same time a semi trailer truck was traveling south on Indiana 49. The identity of the truck driver is unknown.

A few seconds later the 18 wheeler suddenly slammed into the smaller vehicle and pushed it about 150 yards down the southbound lanes of Indiana 49
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According to the Valparaiso Police, no one is sure exactly what happened next. Elizabeth Young of Valparaiso, a witness who was also stopped at the intersection, was looking down adjusting her radio when she heard a loud noise. The witness looked up to see the semi trailer truck shoving the car down the highway. The car appeared to be stuck to the trailer truck as it was dragged down the road.

After dragging the car, the semi truck finally came to a rest on top of the roof of the smaller vehicle.

The witness, Ms. Young, said that she rushed to the car, which was filled with smoke, and found Ms. Nielsen unconscious at the wheel. Ms. Young was unable to find a pulse. There were no passengers in the car.

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Valparaiso emergency personnel were quickly at the scene and found the roof of Ms. Nielsen’s car almost completely crushed in where the cab of the trailer truck had come to a rest.

EMTs attempted to give aid, but found that Ms. Nielsen had suffered fatal injuries in the truck accident. She was pronounced dead at the scene according to the Porter County Coroner Robert Schulte.

It is not known if the truck driver was injured in the collision.

Valparaiso Police shut down the intersection while crews worked to clear the wreckage of the vehicles and officials reconstructed the truck accident. Local vehicles were rerouted around the intersection and the closure backed up traffic and caused delays on the southbound lanes of Indiana 49.

The intersection of Vale Park Road and Indiana 49 has been the site for numerous accidents and is considered one of the most dangerous intersections in Indiana. Friday’s truck accident was the fourth fatal accident in the last four years. The Indiana Department of Transportation is planning to remake Vale Park Road as an overpass, going over the Indiana 49 highway. The road construction is expected to start in 2011.

At this time no charges have been brought and the truck accident remains under investigation.

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