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Mary R. Henderson

65

Mary R. Henderson

6/15/1944 - 8/29/2002

Toll worker falls in rig's path, killed

FREMONT - State police are investigating an accident Thursday, 8/29/2002, that took the life of a 58-year-old toll booth collector after she fell into the path of a tractor-trailer rig.

Mary Henderson of Angola was killed about 6:30 p.m. Thursday when she slipped and fell under the wheels of a 1998 Freightliner on the Indiana Toll Road, according to a report from the Indiana State Police.

Henderson was leaving her Eastpoint toll booth at the intersection of Interstate 80-90 and Interstate 69, a report said.

The plaza, the last before the Ohio state line, is one of the busiest along the toll road - which stretches across the northern part of the state, said the district administrative manager for the Indiana Department of Transportation's Toll Road District.

"It's always a busy plaza," he said. "It's the last point of entry for the state."

Family members describe Henderson as a beautiful and happy person.

"Everybody enjoyed her company," said her daughter, Deborah Kaiser.

Henderson's personality was one that could light up a room, and Kaiser said her mother never went out without her hair done, makeup on and jewelry in place.

One to remember birthdays and special events for other people, Henderson was on her way to a funeral on one occasion when she fell and broke her arm, Kaiser said.

"She went to the funeral anyway," said Kaiser, adding that her mother was always someone to consider others ahead of herself.

Henderson had been employed by state transportation department since 1994 and was one of 36 employees at the Eastpoint plaza, the manager said.

She loved her job at the toll road, Kaiser said.

Quick with a smile for the regular truck drivers who came through the plaza, Henderson often baked cakes and took food in for her co-workers, Kaiser said.

Those same truck drivers would often bring Henderson gifts as they passed through her booth, Kaiser said.

The driver of the truck rig told police he had finished paying his toll and was pulling away from the toll booth, according to the report.

He said he felt a "little bump" as he was pulling away. The driver said he saw Henderson leave the booth, but thought she had left the area, according to the report.

Henderson suffered massive internal and external injuries, according to the report.

The district administrative manager said he could not comment on the state's procedures and policies for entering and exiting the booth. He also declined to comment on this particular case until the investigation is complete.

"It would not be appropriate at this time," he said.

Henderson was a "dedicated and hardworking employee," he said.

A written statement from the state transportation department Commissioner issued Friday said that Henderson was the fourth employee killed on the job this year.

"This year has been particularly difficult for INDOT as we have lost several of our colleagues in both work zone and workplace accidents," the commissioner said.

State police expect the investigation to wrap up by the end of the weekend.

Henderson, the "people person" was very modest, Kaiser said.

"She never understood what she gave to people."

Source: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette 8/31/2002

Angola woman killed at toll booth

Toll-road employee slips and falls under wheels of tractor trailer Thursday, August 29, 2002.

ANGOLA - An Angola woman is dead following an early evening accident that happened Thursday near the 153 mile marker on the Indiana Toll Road.

Mary Henderson, 58, worked as a toll collector on the toll road. According to an accident report from the Indiana State Police, she was leaving her toll booth at 6:32 p.m. on Thursday when she "apparently slipped and fell underneath the wheels of a tractor trailer."

According to the report, the driver of the truck had just finished paying his toll and was pulling away when he "felt a little bump." He said he saw Henderson exit her booth, but that he "thought she had left the area."

Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene. Her injuries were described in the accident report as "massive internal and external."

No charges were filed against the truck driver.

Henderson was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne for an autopsy by representatives from Beams Funeral Home in Fremont, said a Beams staff member. It could be as long as 48 hours before funeral arrangements are made, the staff member said.

The Indiana State Police were assisted at the scene by officials from the Steuben County Emergency Medical Service, Steuben County Sheriff's Department and Angola Police Department.

Source: Kendallville The News-Sun and The Evening Star 8/30/2002

State worker is killed along Indiana Toll Road

A veteran Indiana Department of Transportation employee was killed last week in an accident at the East Point Toll Plaza along the Indiana Toll Road.

Mary Henderson, who worked for the Toll Road nearly eight years, was performing her duties as a toll attendant when she was struck by a vehicle near her toll booth on August 29, 2002 in Steuben County.

She was the fourth Indiana Department of Transportation worker to be killed this year in the line of duty and the 69th since 1969.

"This year has been particularly difficult. We have lost several of our colleagues in both work zone and workplace accidents," said the state transportation commissioner. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Henderson family at this difficult time."

Source: The Indianapolis Star 9/02/2002