ROCHESTER — At approximately 1:50 pm Thursday, Aug. 16, a two-vehicle accident occurred on US 31, north of the Tippecanoe River Bridge. Preliminary investigation by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office shows a white 2014 Isuzu NPR Commercial truck registered to B & B Contracting & Supply, LLC from Indianapolis and driven by Deon Tre Alan Crawford, 19, of Indianapolis, was southbound on US 31 when the vehicle crossed the median and hit a northbound black 2008 Honda passenger car on the front driver side.

Both vehicles left the north bound US 31 and came to rest in the side ditch. The driver of the Honda, a 62-year-old South Bend man was entrapped and was extricated by the Rochester Fire Department. The driver was declared dead at the scene from blunt force trauma injuries sustained from the crash before he could be flown by Samaritan helicopter. The deceased driver’s name is being withheld until notification of family can be made.

Crawford and his passenger, Johnathan Quiroz, 22, also of Indianapolis, were transported by Lutheran EMS to South Bend Memorial with non-life-threatening injuries.

At this time weather is a contributing factor as there was heavy rain when the crash occurred. As a result of the crash, both lanes of US 31 were shut down for approximately one hour. The crash is still under investigation by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, along with an Indiana State Police crash reconstructionist.

Assisting the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Rochester Fire Department, Lutheran EMS, Samaritan, Indiana State Police, Fulton County Coroner Office and St. Joe County Sheriff’s Department.