Grant County – Today at approximately 9:15 a.m., officers from the Indiana State Police, the Swayzee Police Department, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two vehicle crash at the intersection of State Road 22 and State Road 13, in which a Michigan man died.
The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper A.J. Coffee revealed that Jernane Coleman, 40, Bethlehem, PA was driving a 2004 Freightliner semi-tractor, pulling a box trailer, eastbound on State Road 22. Coleman allegedly failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of State Road 13. Coleman’s semi-tractor hit a southbound 2005 Freightliner semi-tractor, pulling a grain trailer, in the passenger’s side door. The southbound semi-tractor was driven by David Hoffman, 54, Shelbyville, MI. After impact, both semi-tractors caught fire and were fully engulfed when emergency responders arrived. Coleman was able to escape his burning vehicle with the assistance of good samaritans who stopped to help.
Coleman was flown from the crash scene, by a medical helicopter, to a Ft. Wayne hospital. He suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. Hoffman died at the scene.
This is an ongoing investigation. At this time neither the consumption of alcoholic beverages nor narcotics is suspected as having contributed to this crash.
Hoffman was driving for Sunrise Acres based in Hudsonville, MI. Coleman was driving for Johnson Transport LLC based in Elizabeth, NJ.
Trooper Coffee was also assisted at the crash scene by the Swayzee Fire Department, ISP Sergeant Rick Brown, Trooper Eric Treon, Trooper Aaron Schall, and Trooper Josh Tarrh.
One photo attached.
-30- Slocum
