A routine wait for help on the side of Interstate 69 turned fatal Tuesday morning when a disabled pickup was hit on the northbound lanes near mile marker 272, according to county officials. The collision, reported around 6:33 a.m., left 45-year-old Joseph A. Kidwell of Marion dead at the scene. His wife and the driver of the other truck were taken to hospitals for treatment.
What the sheriff's office reported
In a post from the Grant County Sheriff's Office on Facebook, deputies said the Kidwells' 1996 Chevrolet truck had broken down, and the couple was waiting for family to arrive when the crash happened. A 2011 Chevrolet, which was passing a semi tractor-trailer, veered off the roadway and struck the disabled truck, causing it to roll. The post identifies the driver of the disabled vehicle as 45-year-old Joseph A. Kidwell and notes that his wife was taken to a hospital in Fort Wayne for treatment. The sheriff's office says the investigation is ongoing.
Local reporting and timeline
Local station WPTA's 21Alive published a report that matches the basic outline of the sheriff's account, noting that multiple callers reported a rollover around 6:30 a.m. near the 272 mile-marker. According to WPTA, Kidwell was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver of the 2011 Chevrolet was injured and treated by emergency crews.
Who responded and next steps
The sheriff's post lists a long roster of responding agencies: the Indiana State Police, Huntington County Sheriff's Office, Van Buren Volunteer Fire Department, Washington Township Fire, Marion Fire Department, Marion Health Medics, Grant County Emergency Management, Grant County EMS and Warren EMS. Investigators are still piecing together exactly what happened, and anyone who saw the crash or has information is asked to contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office at 765-662-9836.
What remains unknown
So far, officials have released only preliminary details while they continue examining the scene and reviewing evidence, WPTA reported. Authorities say they plan to share more information as the investigation moves forward and are encouraging anyone with dash-cam footage or witness accounts to come forward.
