A Fort Wayne couple traveling Tuesday afternoon were stopped at at redlight on US 30 in Valparaiso when a semi tractor-trailer struck their vehicle from behind. The crash was devastating, killing a well-regarded Northwood Middle School teacher and critically injuring her husband.
The Valparaiso Police Department report that Lahna Gibson, age 41, of Fort Wayne, was fatally injured in the crash. Mack Gibson, 49, of Fort Wayne, is in critical condition at a Valparaiso hospital.
The accident occurred near the Valparaiso University campus. Valparaiso Police and the Indiana State Police are investigating.
From the Valparaiso Police Department:
Police have learned through their investigation that a tractor-trailer traveling in the WB lanes rear ended a vehicle stopping at the automatic signal to the entrance of the Pilot Travel Center.
[ ... ] The truck driver who was not injured, was identified as Douglas Stockdale, 58 yrs old, of Machesney Park Illinois.
UPDATE Thursday: Erin Guerra of the Gary Post-Tribune reported:
The semi-trailer driver assumed the car in front of him was going to continue through the yellow light.
When it didn't, he couldn't stop in time, he told Indiana State police after the 12:31 p.m. Tuesday crash on U.S. 30.
The truck rear-ended the blue 2005 Toyota Celica and pushed it through the intersection in front of the Pilot Travel Center at 4105 Morthland Drive.
[ ... ]
Truck driver Douglas Stockdale, 58, of Machesney Park, Ill., was not injured. He was driving a blue 2005 Freightliner and box trailer owned by Shadow Trucking Inc. of Rockford, Ill.
The crash remains under investigation.
So far, speed did not appear to be a factor and Stockdale has passed alcohol tests and drug tests are pending.
State police listed the crash contributors as Stockdale following too closely and having an insecure load, but he has not yet been ticketed.
Map credit: Google maps.
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