Montgomery County – This morning (8/1/2022), just after 1:00 a.m., Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police responded to a fatal crash on I-74 westbound near the 38 mile marker.
A preliminary investigation by Trooper Wiley revealed that just before 1:00 a.m., Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single-vehicle crash on I-74 near the 39 mile marker. When deputies arrived on the scene, they located a 2008 Pontiac G6 that struck the cable barrier but were unable to locate the driver. While deputies were on scene, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 call of a pedestrian struck on I-74 near the 38 mile marker.
Further investigation revealed that a 2020 Volvo Semi-truck, driven by Daniel Hatfield, 35, from Bellbrook, OH, was traveling westbound on I-74 near the 38 mile marker. At that time, a pedestrian was walking on I-74 in the right lane. Bellbrook attempted to avoid the pedestrian but was unable to and struck him. The pedestrian that was struck is believed to be the driver of the Pontiac.
Despite lifesaving efforts by Crawfordsville EMS, the pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash by the Montgomery County Coroner. The pedestrian was identified by the Montgomery County Coroner to be Jean Roodje, 23, From Laurel, DE, and next of kin have been notified.
Hatfield was uninjured in the crash.
Trooper Wiley was assisted on scene by Troopers from the Lafayette Post, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, Montgomery County Coroner, Crawfordsville Fire Department, and Crawfordsville EMS.
The original crash of the Pontiac striking the cable barrier was investigated by Montgomery County Sheriff's Department.
There is no further information to release at this time.