Terre Haute, Indiana - The Indiana State Police are investigating a chain reaction crash between two semi tractor-trailers and five passenger vehicles. The crash, which occurred on Saturday, March 16, 2019, on Interstate 70 westbound at the 11 mile marker, claimed the life of a Reelsville man.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Brian Thomas, who was located in the area helping to slow traffic due to an earlier accident at the 10 mile marker, indicated that at approximately 9:57 a.m., a 2018 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer, driven by Pierre St. Jean, 70, of Saint-Charles-Borromee, Quebec, was traveling westbound on Interstate 70 in the passing lane near the 11 mile marker. St. Jean failed to recognize that traffic had slowed or stopped in the area and struck a 2008 GMC Yukon, pulling a recreational trailer, in the rear. The 2008 Yukon was driven by Richard A. Gorsky Sr., 62, of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Gorsky’s vehicle was originally stopped in the passing lane, but upon the rear impact from the tractor-trailer, his vehicle was forced into the driving lane of Interstate 70. Pierre St. Jean’s semi continued westbound in the passing lane, striking a Buick, driven by Morgan Johnson, 20, of Reelsville, Indiana. The force of this collision pushed Morgan’s vehicle into the back of a stationary semi tractor-trailer, a 2013 Volvo, driven by Douglas K. Baumgartner, 61, of Melbourne, Florida. Upon impact with the stationary trailer, Morgan’s vehicle immediately burst into flames. A 2008 Ford Edge, located in front of Johnson, and driven by Leon Price Jr., 55, of Brighton, Illinois, observed the previous collisions in his rearview mirror, and recognized the need to perform an evasive maneuver into the median, trying to avoid an impact with St. Jean’s semi. St. Jean clipped Price’s vehicle and forced the Ford Edge further into the southside of the median of Interstate 70 and into the cable barrier system.
Pierre St. Jean continued westbound, eventually coming to a stop, after striking the 2013 Volvo semi tractor-trailer, driven by Baumgartner. The force of this collison pushed Baumgartner into the rear of a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a Calvin A. Scott, 61, of Indianapolis, IN, which then led to the rear impact of a 2017 Nissan driven by a Randie Danner-Montoya, 42, of Belen, New Mexico. This seven vehicle, chain reaction crash sent three individuals to Terre Haute Regional Hospital with non life-threatening injuries, and took the life of one driver.
Deceased is a Morgan N. Johnson, 20, of Reelsville, Indiana. Family members have been notified.
The investigation is ongoing. When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a contributing factor of the crash.
Assisting Agencies: Riley Fire Department, Honey Creek Fire Department, Terre Haute Fire Department, Vigo County Sheriff's Department, Terre Haute Police Department, Vigo County Coroner's Office, Indiana Department of Transportation, Trans Care Ambulance Service, Vigo County Accident Reconstruction Team and Eddington’s Wrecker Service.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
