St. Joseph County – The Indiana State Police and emergency personnel responded to a multi-vehicle crash shortly after 1:00 p.m. Friday afternoon on the Indiana Toll Road. The accident occurred in the west bound lanes at the 85.2 mile marker.
According to state police crash re-constructionists traffic had come to a standstill in the area due to construction zone traffic and two crashes that had recently happened. A Toll Road maintenance vehicle was positioned near the 87.4 mile marker warning drivers of the traffic conditions ahead.
At the time of the crash 45 year-old Lonnie M. Herron, of Brantley, Alabama was stopped in the west bound driving lane due to traffic congestion. He was driving an International semi tractor trailer. Robert Calsin, 69, of Lakewood, Ohio and his front seat passenger 73 year-old Dennis Calsin were stopped directly behind Herron in a Hyundai SUV. A third vehicle driven by 47 year-old Brian McGrath of Upton, Massachusetts was also stopped in the road positioned behind Caslin. Cassondra McGrath, 21, also from Upton, was a passenger in the Jeep SUV.
Velibor Obradovic, 51, of Riverside, Illinois, was west bound in a Volvo semi tractor trailer traveling in the driving lane at highway speeds as he approached the stopped traffic. Obradovic did not slow down as he neared the congestion and slammed into the trailer that McGrath was pulling. The force of the crash sent the trailer and SUV into the rear of Caslin’s Hyundai. The chain reaction crash continued as Caslin collided with the semi trailer that was pulled by Herron. All four vehicles came to a final rest in the center median.
Dennis Calsin was taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Robert Calsin was also transported to Memorial Hospital and treated for lacerations that he received in the crash. Lonnie Herron and Brian McGrath were not injured in the crash. Cassondra McGrath was treated for a head injury and lacerations at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. Obradovic received minor lacerations as a result of the crash and was treated at South Bend Memorial Hospital.
This crash remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police. The crash report and investigation will be submitted to the St. Joseph County Prosecutors Office after completion for review.
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