Shelby Co., – A two vehicle crash on I-74 late this afternoon has claimed the life of a St. Paul, Indiana man.
This afternoon at approximately 5:20 p.m., Indiana State Police troopers were dispatched to a personal injury crash on I-74 WB at the 115mm involving a van and semi-tractor trailer. According to the crash investigation and witness statements, a van was traveling EB on I-74 at the 115mm and for an unknown reason left the roadway, traveled through the grass median, and struck a WB semi-tractor trailer. This area of I-74 does not have median cable barriers.
The driver of the van, James E. Byard, 78, of St. Paul, the only occupant, was pronounced deceased at the crash scene. The driver of the Fed-Ex tractor- trailer, Jerry Hodgkin, 45, of Cincinnati, Ohio was transported to Major Hospital with a hand injury.
This is an ongoing investigation and officials are unsure why the van crossed the median.
The east and west bound lanes of I-74 were closed and or restricted for approximately two hours during the crash investigation and cleanup of the wreckage.
