More details in deadly truck crash

Preliminary autopsy results determined an Illinois man died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate-70 Monday morning

After notifying the victim's family Tuesday, Clay County Coroner Rick Swearingen told The Brazil Times that Pathologist Dr. Roland Kohr's preliminary autopsy results were completed on Ronald W. Frazier, 48, Nokomis, Ill.

"Frazier died of positional asphyxia due to injuries sustained during the accident," Swearingen said, explaining the condition occurs when a person's body position prevents them from being able to breath adequately.

According to the preliminary toxicology report, Swearingen said Frazier was not under the influence of any drug or alcohol substance and had no health problems that would have attributed to the accident.

Early Monday morning, Frazier was killed when the semi he was driving went off the right side of the eastbound lane of I-70, near the 29-mile-marker. The semi went into a ditch, struck a concrete culvert and then hit an earth embankment, which caused the vehicle to roll over on the passenger's side.

The cab continued to slide and struck the bridge support of the Clay/ Putnam County overpass road head-on, trapping Frazier inside the cab.

Due to the severity of Frazier's injuries, Swearingen said he probably lost consciousness within seconds and died a couple of minutes later.

Officials confirmed that Frazier was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, but it was unable to prevent fatal injuries.

An official cause has yet to be determined, however, the accident remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police.

Ivy Jackson writes for the Brazil Times, sister newspaper of the Banner Graphic.