I-70 chain reaction crash kills 20-year-old , injures 3 others

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

A chain reaction crash --involving two semi-trucks and five vehicles on Interstate 70 ---claimed the life of a Reelsville man and injured three others yesterday morning in Terre Haute.

Morgan N. Johnson, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Matt Ames said the deceased victim's vehicle vehicle immediately burst into flames when his Buick was struck by one semi --- causing him to crash into another semi.

According to the report, traffic had slowed on the interstate due to an earlier crash, when a 2018 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer, driven by Pierre St. Jean, 70, of Saint-Charles-Borromee, Quebec, was traveling westbound on I-70 in the passing lane near the 11 mile marker just before 10 a.m.

St. John didn't realize traffic had slowed down when he fist struck the rear of a 2008 GMC Yukon, driven by Richard A. Gorsky Sr., 62, of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Gorsky was pulling a recreational trailer.

The semi continued westbound in the passing lane, striking Johnson's car.  

Johnson's car was forced into the back of a stationary 2013 Volvo semi trailer, driven by Douglas K. Baumgartner, 61, of Melbourne, Florida. 

Leon Price Jr., 55, of Brighton, Illinois, was driving a 2008 Ford Edge when St. Jean clipped his vehicle and forcing it into the southside of the median and into the cable barrier system.

St. Jean's semi finally came to a stop after striking Baumgartner' trailer.  That semi then crashed into the rear of a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a Calvin A. Scott, 61, of Indianapolis. The Tahoe then crashed into the rear of a 2017 Nissan driven by a Randie Danner-Montoya, 42, of Belen, New Mexico. 

The ISP investigation is ongoing. 

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 and Vigo County Accident Reconstruction Team assisted at the scene.