LaPorte County-Indiana State Police Master Trooper Todd LaBonne responded to a crash, this morning, on I-90 (Toll Road) where a maintenance worker was killed in a crash.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Toll Road radio dispatch received a call about a speeding erratic driver west bound on the Toll Road and dispatched that information out when minutes later, at approximately 11:30 a.m. (EST) the same vehicle, a red 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe, hit the rear of a maintenance pick-up.

The Ford pick-up, driven by Kevin Standefer, 49 of LaPorte, was parked on the inner shoulder west bound at the 39.8 mile marker (this is just east of the Michigan City exit).  The pick-up had warning lights and a lit arrow board activated on it.  There was also signage behind the pick-up warning west bound traffic of workers working up ahead.  Daniel J. Miller, 52, of LaPorte, was a passenger in the pick-up and had just exited the truck to get trimming equipment out of the back when the Santa Fe hit Miller and the rear of the pick-up.

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaPorte County Coroner (family notified).  Standefer was taken to Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City with non-life threatening injuries.  Miller was a seventeen-year employee and Standefer a twelve-year employee with the Toll Road; both worked for the LaPorte District Maintenance Area 2.

The driver of the Santa Fe was airlifted from the scene and taken to South Bend Memorial where he died from his injuries.  The driver has been identified as Paul A. Kimbrugh, 78 of Coldwater, Michigan and Cape Coral, Florida.  Family has been notified.

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