7:15 p.m. update
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department has identified the driver of the second pickup truck involved in the fatal accident as Megan Lucas, North Vernon.
8:33 A.M. Friday update
The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office has identified the man who died in a Thursday accident on North U.S. 31 near County Road 800N as Pawel Wierzbicki, 39, of Pennsylvania.
The coroner’s office has completed family notifications on the death.
The cause of death is listed as massive trauma to the lower extremities.
This story will be updated.
ORIGINAL STORY
One person was killed in a collision on southbound U.S. 31 near the Indiana Premium Outlets Thursday.
Two dark-colored pickup trucks were involved in the 12:11 p.m. crash, just south of County Road 800N. Traffic on both northbound and southbound lanes were rerouted onto Executive Way and Presidential Lane to 800N while first responders were on the scene.
U.S. 31 was reopened to traffic shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday.
While Edinburgh Police Chief Doyne Little and town officer Clay Morgan were among the first at the scene, Little stressed the investigation was under the jurisdiction of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s office.
An IU Health Lifeline helicopter landed on the northbound lanes at the accident site in front of Truck Service Inc. It landed at about 12:50 p.m. and departed at about 1:25 p.m. But initial reports indicate the victim was pronounced dead at the scene and the helicopter did not transport anyone. The Bartholomew County Coroner’s office was called to the scene.
At about 3 p.m., Bartholomew County Sheriff”s spokesman Sgt. Dane Duke made a brief statement that emphasized the investigation is ongoing.
“A subject was on the side of the road assisting a disabled vehicle, and unfortunately was stuck by another vehicle, which resulted in a fatality,” Duke said.
A man who claims to have witnessed the accident says it appeared the first pickup was hauling a trailer carrying an engine that fell off onto the highway. It was while the victim was trying to move the engine that he was struck by the other southbound truck, the witness said.
In a press release from Duke issued Thursday night, investigators said the preliminary investigation indicated the victim had stopped to assist another motorist with a disabled vehicle and was struck by another vehicle, resulting in death.
The Bartholomew County Accident Reconstruction Team was investigating the accident.
This story will be updated.
