Photo Provided By The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department

One person is dead following a tractor-trailer accident along US 30, east of Pierceton today. A small canine, located inside the mangled semi cab was found alive and taken into safe keeping by the Kosciusko County Animal Control.

The name of the driver has not been released at this time. The driver was found deceased in the wreckage.

The 911 call was received at 12:23 p.m. reporting the single vehicle, semitractor/trailer accident. Emergency personnel responded, finding the vehicle had crashed into and was still inside a vacant business.

Multiple fire departments arrived on scene and determined that due to structural concerns, the vehicle should be removed from the building before extricating the victim. A small canine was located alive inside the mangled semi cab, and was taken into safe keeping by the Kosciusko County Animal Control.

Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. team stated the initial investigation determined the semi tractor/trailer was westbound on U.S 30, when for an unknown reason, suddenly crossed into the median area, over the eastbound U.S. 30 lanes, and collided with the vacant business. The physical address for the structure that was damaged was determined to be 7659 E. U.S. 30, Pierceton.

Officers stated the crash is still under investigation. The Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. Team was assisted at the scene by the Pierceton Fire Department, Multi-Township E.M.S., Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Territory, Winona Lake Fire Department, Pierceton Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Police and their Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division.