News Release

SOUTH BEND – An Indiana Toll Road maintenance worker was struck and killed Thursday, July 2, while performing work outside of his vehicle.

The accident happened around 1:50 p.m. on the Indiana Toll Road, near the 81.5-mile marker in the eastbound lane, and involved a white SUV that apparently hit the worker before continuing off the road and rolling over in the ditch, according to a report issued by Indiana State Police.

A preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police indicates that a maintenance worker had parked his maintenance truck on the right shoulder on the Toll Road with emergency lights activated. The maintenance worker was sweeping debris from the right shoulder in front of his truck when a white 2010 Toyota Highlander that was traveling east alleged drove off the road to the right, side-swiping the maintenance truck and then striking the maintenance worker, killing him.

The Toyota continued off the roadway, rolling over and coming to a final rest in the ditch on the south side of the road, the report said.

The driver of the Toyota, Charles Bellows, 70, and passenger, Deborah Bellows, 69 both of Wayzata, Minn.,  were transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend with injuries that are believed to be minor

This crash investigation is ongoing but the use of alcohol and drugs is not suspected as a contributing factor in the crash.

Indiana law requires vehicles to move into an adjacent lane or slow to at least ten miles under the speed limit when approaching emergency vehicles on the side of the road with lights activated. Highway maintenance vehicles are included under this law.