ELWOOD, Ind. —
Witnesses believe the woman killed in a head-on collision Tuesday was falling asleep at the wheel before the wreck.
Jennifer Campbell Sotelo, 27, of Grant County was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple blunt force injuries when the Volkswagen sedan she was driving plowed into a 2011 Freightliner milk truck on Indiana 37 near County Road 900 North, said Madison County Coroner Marian Dunnichay.
Darrin Gowan, 46, of Indianapolis, was in a vehicle following the Volkswagen northbound and said he watched the accident unfold. Police dispatch received a 911 call reporting the accident just before 9 a.m.
“From the time we got behind her, we saw her weaving into the opposite lane and into oncoming traffic,” Gowan said. “She had at least two near collisions. She jerked back into the right lane just in time.”
Gowan said he and his wife assumed Sotelo’s erratic driving was a result of falling asleep at the wheel. He said he and his wife were debating calling police to report the Volkswagen about 15 seconds before the collision.
“She just drifted over,” Gowan said. “The truck veered a little bit but it wasn’t enough. Debris scattered for about 50 yards. It was pretty obvious, even with the airbag, that she wasn’t going to make it. I’m glad I didn’t try to go over and check out the wreckage.”
Gowan said another possibility could have been that Sotelo was texting while driving. But that information was not confirmed by authorities.
“I have teenagers, and that’s one of the first things you think about is ‘Oh no, I hope they weren’t texting,’” Gowan said.
Sotelo’s body, which was trapped in the wreckage, had to be extricated from the vehicle.
“You just hope it happened so fast that she didn’t know what happened,” Gowan said.
The driver of the milk truck, Christopher Al Therr, 37, was transported to St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood, said Madison County Sheriff Ron Richardson.
The box truck landed on its side in a ditch and sustained a punctured fuel tank. Madison County hazardous materials teams worked nearly four hours to clean up the leak, Richardson said.
Find Jack Molitor on Facebook and @AggieJack4 on Twitter, or call 640-4883.
Local News
Related Photos
-
The scene of a fatal head-on accident Tuesday morning on State Road 37 near County Road 900 North. The crash involved a Volkswagon passenger car and a milk delivery box truck. John P. Cleary
-
The scene of a fatal head-on accident Tuesday morning on State Road 37 near County Road 900 North. The crash involved a Volkswagon passenger car and a milk delivery box truck. John P. Cleary
Discussion
Witness: Driver might have been falling asleep
- Local News
-
-
Off to the races
For the past 15 or so years, Jack Lloyd's pursuit of race cars has had him camping out at Anderson Speedway for the Pay Less Little 500, which marks its 65th birthday this Saturday.
-
ACS to reopen Killbuck Elementary
With an increase in enrollment forecast for 2013-14, especially among younger students, Anderson Community Schools has decided to reopen Killbuck Elementary and transport kindergartners from Valley Grove and Eastside to the school in Richland Township.
-
ACS board selects new principals
The Anderson Community Schools board selected principals for the reopening of Killbuck and Southview elementary schools on Wednesday.
-
Flagship Microloan program expands
The Flagship Enterprise Center is making $500,000 more in loan funds available to local small businesses.
-
Madison County burglary suspect found in Fort Wayne
A man believed to be responsible for a double burglary a month and a half ago was arrested Tuesday.
-
Cooler, showers and thunderstorms possible again
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for today, and temperatures will continue to decline into the upper 60s.
-
Poll question for Thursday, May 23
Vote daily in The Herald Bulletin poll. Today's poll question can be found at the bottom of the homepage on the right side.
-
Report: State is both ‘leader and laggard’
A newly released report card on where Indiana ranks nationally in key economic measures shows the state is both “a leader and a laggard” in areas that signal potential for more prosperity.
-
AARP Driver Safety Program on May 31
There will be an AARP Driver Safety Program offered on Friday, May 31, sponsored by the Park Place Community Center.
-
Local Briefs: May 23
A compilation of news items of local and statewide interest as published in the Thursday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
- More Local News Headlines
-
