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Accident on U.S. 36 kills one, injures two

Friday, August 26, 2011
BY MICHAEL LOGLI Staff Writer
This white pick-up truck slammed into a grain semi truck on U.S. 36 at about 3:45 p.m. Thursday west of Morton.

MORTON -- A fatal accident west of Morton Thursday afternoon took the life of the passenger of a pick-up truck and resulted in injuries to the drivers of the truck and a grain semi.

According to Putnam County Sheriff's Department Deputy Phillip Troyer, the grain truck driver, Richard Hix of Danville, Ill., was stopped, facing west near 5708 U.S. 36, about 3:45 p.m.

Hix, who was sitting in a Crop Transport semi truck, was waiting for an eastbound school bus to finish dropping off students along U.S. 36.

Kenny Comp, the driver of the 4MC Corp. pick-up truck, apparently did not notice the stopped semi until too late and swerved to avoid the back of the semi trailer.

In trying to avoid the semi, the trailer attached to the back of Comp's truck caught the back of the semi and swung the pick-up truck's passenger side into the middle of and partially under the semi.

A passenger in the pick-up truck, identified Friday as Andrew Clark of Decatur, Ill., was fatally injured at the scene.

Comp was airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis. As of Friday afternoon, he was in stable condition.

Hix was transported to Putnam County Hospital by ambulance.

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  • Wow, if only people would drive more responible. I am so sorry for that passenger and all the people who loved him. May Jehovah bring them some comfort.

    -- Posted by BlackBarbie22 on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 8:16 AM

  • Illinois Driver...It sounds like that this could have been worse? School Bus dropping of children and this truck passed into the direction of an eastbound Bus? Anything about the students seeing this happen, hope they are doing well also!

    Watch Out for the School Busses!!

    -- Posted by macvrod on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 8:25 AM

  • Yes, it does sound like it could have been worse. Glad no kids were injured. Best wishes to the family of the deceased.

    -- Posted by Clovertucky on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 8:35 AM

  • Please pray for the injured, the family and friends of the deceased and all those involved.

    -- Posted by nanamom on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 9:34 AM

  • shutterbug, they didn't even get the name of the town right (photo caption), why would they get the other names right? This is the Banner we're talking about; a paper that continues to exist solely because there's no other daily news source in the area.

    -- Posted by Clovertucky on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 12:09 PM

  • Please call the Banner and have the names corrected because I believe you are correct, out of respect they should do that. As a member of the fire dept.that responded, my condolences go out to the families and victims of this accident.

    -- Posted by infiremanemt on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 12:13 PM

  • Whatever facts are missing or in dispute here, you don't get that level of damage from a low speed impact. Sorry that anyone was hurt, let alone lost their life, but it could have been a lot worse if that truck had successfully passed the semi and gone on toward the stopped school bus that was unloading children.

    My prayers go out to the families of those involved.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 12:21 PM

  • The lawyers will figure it all out......

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 2:29 PM

  • I am JustinHoop's mom...I would like ArganbrightB, LC2011, and Sisterofvic to know I think the kids on the bus are all emotionally fine and many of them as well as my family are all praying for you and your families. We are terribly sorry for your loss. ArganBrightB: I agree that your friend would never mean to put anyone in danger and I believe he was trying his best to stop and didn't know which way to turn to avoid hitting a vehicle or pedestrian in any direction. My son (JustinHoop) said it best: It was an innocent mistake. Prayers to all. Sisterofvic: Our deepest sympathy and prayers.

    -- Posted by T Hoop on Fri, Aug 26, 2011, at 11:23 PM

  • I personally knew both of the men in the pickup truck. Comp is a good man. He would do anything for anyone. To the people who made negative remarks about this accident...shame on you.

    mlpajp123, you said, "I heard no skidding tires at all---just the impact of the crash!!! I believe this driver was totally distracted and never had time to hit his brakes before he drove into the back of the semi. Weather was perfect,,, it was on a straight stretch of the road,,, I just don't way he didn't see us... School Bus, Me, 2nd car, then semi, that was the order we were stopped." You can't possibly have any idea what was going on in that truck, or how he reacted during those crucial moments...You should never assume you know the situation.

    Accident's happen. This was nobody's fault. Instead of putting blame on someone, lets come together and pray for those involved. RIP Andrew Clark, you will be missed.

    -- Posted by gcmomof2 on Sat, Aug 27, 2011, at 2:20 AM

  • Makes me think by the comments that if there were several vechiles behind the bus that maybe there should be a school corporation policy or state law that if 10 vehicles or more are behind the bus that they pull off the road when it's safe to do so. By doing that, they get rid of the huge traffic backlog and then they can proceed. When there's a backlog of traffic, people begin to get impatient, vision is slightly more obstructed than normal creating hazards that can be avoided.

    -- Posted by purple_heat on Sat, Aug 27, 2011, at 3:33 PM

  • My family & I have these men in our prayers! Comp is a good man & we pray for a speedy recovery! We pray for Andrews family as they get through this trying time!

    -- Posted by momofjdp on Sat, Aug 27, 2011, at 11:47 PM

  • Not a time to place blame....just pray for those involved. Lives were changed forever as the result of this. Our prayers go out to all....may God be with you.

    -- Posted by John3:16 on Sun, Aug 28, 2011, at 12:01 PM

  • I am Andrew's Mother and I thank all of you for your prayers. Please remember that NO ONE is to blame. Accidents happen. My heart is broken beyond words but I have God to carry me through life without Andrew. God had molded him into an awesome person and he will be missed greatly by many. His smile will live on in our memories forever!

    -- Posted by Andrew's Mom on Thu, Sep 1, 2011, at 10:50 PM
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