Lizton, IN – A 20 year old Lebanon man was killed this evening while conducting a roadside repair on a disabled truck along I-74. Just after 5:00 p.m. emergency crews were called to the scene of a very serious crash on I-74 eastbound near SR 39 in Hendricks County. The crash involved three vehicles, one person was reported unconscious and CPR had been started, another person, the driver of a semi, was reportedly trapped inside his vehicle. A medical helicopter responded to the scene and transported the entrapped driver to a hospital in Indianapolis. Despite life saving efforts, 20 year old Clinton Simmons was pronounced deceased at the scene.
State Police investigators believe a box truck had gotten a flat tire and became disabled on the right shoulder, out of the roadway. Mr. Simmons was a roadside repairman who was called to assist the box truck. The repair truck was parked in front of the disabled box truck and Mr. Simmons had completed the repair. As he was putting his tools back into his truck an eastbound semi tractor-trailer drove onto the shoulder and struck the back of the parked box truck, subsequently pushing the box truck into the repair truck and striking Mr. Simmons. The semi was being driven by Steven Sanchez of Indianapolis, he was flown by medical helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital. The driver the box truck was not injured.
Troopers believe the driver of the semi may have fallen asleep prior to leaving the roadway and striking the box truck. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor but a blood draw for alcohol was administered as standard protocol with all fatal crashes.
This crash is still under investigation and at this point there have been no arrests made or criminal charges filed, however it is important to note all suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
