UPDATE (October 24, 2023):
Indiana State Police have identified the man killed in a crash Sunday night on the Indiana Toll Road in LaGrange County.
The crash happened when a car was slowly going west on the highway just east of State Road 13. The man, identified as 47-year-old Kyle Stanton of Columbus, Ohio, was killed when a semi hit him from behind. The car crossed the median and caught fire.
Indiana State Police released the following on Monday:
The Lagrange County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of the deceased driver in last nights fatal crash investigation, as Kyle Stanton, 47, of Columbus, Ohio. The family of Mr. Stanton has been notified.
This remains an active investigation by the Indiana State Police. Once the investigation is complete, a full report will be turned over to the Lagrange County Prosecutor for review.
There is nothing further to release at this time.
ORIGINAL STORY:
LAGRANGE CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana State Police say that one person died in a crash on the Toll Road in LaGrange County Sunday night.
Police say it was the result of a semi hitting a vehicle that was driving at a low rate of speed close to mile marker 108 around 10 p.m. Both vehicles were traveling westbound when the semi hit the vehicle from behind. That caused the vehicle to travel across the center grass median and catch fire.
ISP says that witnesses attempted to help the driver but the fire became too intense. The driver of the Nissan that the semi hit died in the fire. Their identity has not yet been released.
Police did identify the driver of the semi as 44-year-old Jafar Akhmedov of Warrington, Pennsylvania. Police said he is cooperating with their investigation. As per Indiana law, Akhmedov was transported to a hospital for chemical testing. The states it is required for all drivers involved in a crash where serious bodily injury or death has occurred.
Indiana State Police released the following:
The Indiana State Police is currently investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred on the I-80/90 Toll Road just before 10:00pm Sunday night in Lagrange County.
The preliminary investigation by Trooper Tyler Pinnington found that a 2021 Nissan passenger vehicle was traveling in the westbound lanes of the Toll Road near the 108-mile marker at a very slow rate of speed. A 2019 Volvo semi-tractor/trailer, also traveling westbound, came up behind the Nissan passenger and crashed into the rearend. The impact caused the Nissan to travel across the center grass median and caught fire after coming to rest on the left shoulder of the eastbound lanes. Motorists that witnessed the crashed stopped to render assistance prior to law enforcement and fire-rescue personnel arriving, however their efforts to approach the Nissan were hampered by the intense flames.
The single occupant (driver) of the Nissan was not able to escape the burning vehicle, and subsequently perished inside the car. The Lagrange County coroner was called to the scene to assist in the investigation. Identification of the deceased had not yet been determined at the time of this release.
The semi-driver was identified as Jafar Akhmedov, 44, of Warrington, Pennsylvania. Mr. Akhmedov was cooperating with investigators. He was transported to the Lagrange Hospital for chemical testing in accordance with Indiana law as a requirement for all drivers involved in a crash where serious bodily injury or death has occurred.
At this time there is no other information to be released. As soon as the Lagrange Coroner’s Office confirms the identity of the driver and makes notification to the family, an update to this release will then be sent out.
The Indiana State Police was assisted at the scene by the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Lagrange County Sheriff’s Department, Middlebury Fire Department, Tom’s Towing, and Miller’s Towing.
Comments