One driver airlifted as dump truck crashes into passenger car on U.S. 40

Tuesday, January 21, 2020 ~ Updated 9:18 AM
A load of coal is littered on eastbound U.S. 40 after a dump truck overturned and collided with a passenger vehicle late Tuesday morning.
Banner Graphic/Brand Selvia

A dump truck carrying a load of coal overturned on its side in a collision at the intersection of U.S. 40 and State Road 231 late Tuesday morning.

An alarm went out to fire and police personnel at approximately 11:20 a.m. that a dump truck had turned on its side, as well as collided with another vehicle.

Scanner traffic indicated at the time that the driver of the car was entrapped, and that a StatFlight helicopter was en route to the scene.

Cloverdale police personnel told the Banner Graphic that the dump truck was traveling eastbound on U.S. 40 when the driver failed to stop for a red light. After its brakes failed, the truck T-boned a Buick Lacrosse which was going northbound on State Road 231.

Cloverdale Deputy Marshal Levi App estimated at the scene that the Buick was pushed 40 yards before both vehicles finally came to rest.

Sgt. Riley Houghton of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department was the investigating officer.

The left-front side of the Buick, as well as its windshield, was heavily damaged, and it was indicated by personnel at the scene that the driver sustained face lacerations and internal injuries.

Sgt. Houghton later told the Banner Graphic Tuesday afternoon that the car driver was transported by StatFlight to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

The truck driver suffered a minor head injury but was transported to Putnam County Hospital.

The driver of the dump truck was 43-year-old Michael Bierbaum of Bedford.

The driver of the Buick who was airlifted was 70-year-old Marvin Peters of Greencastle.

The exact conditions of both drivers are unknown as of Thursday morning.

The Cloverdale Police Department, Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Putnam County EMS were all at the scene by 11:30 a.m.

The StatFlight helicopter landed near South Putnam High School as the Banner Graphic gathered information on the incident at approximately 12 p.m.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) was on standby to clean up the coal after the truck was righted at approximately 12:30 p.m., though one of its axles was detached.

Curtis Garage & Wrecker out of Stilesville retrieved both wrecked vehicles.

Sgt. Houghton said the truck belonged to Turner Heavy Haul out of Bedford. Deputy Marshal App related earlier at the scene that the driver was headed to Buzzi Unicem USA.

After the cleanup was complete, the roadway was opened back up to traffic at approximately 1:40 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

The Banner Graphic initially reported that the truck was carrying shale. However, the load was later identified as being coal.

Sgt. Houghton estimated that damages to both vehicles would range from $25,000 - $50,000, though this has yet to be confirmed as of late Tuesday afternoon.

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  • Any updates on gentlemen who was lifelined on how he is doing and the truck driver how he is since wreck.

    -- Posted by pcfss@airhop.com on Tue, Jan 21, 2020, at 8:22 PM
  • "Brakes failed", like it was a sudden occurrence. A loaded dump truck can't stop on a dime at highway speed. Driver's fault entirely, not the brakes. But prayers for both drivers.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Wed, Jan 22, 2020, at 8:04 AM
  • prayers for the driver of the car...could have been any one of us

    -- Posted by ERROR404 on Wed, Jan 22, 2020, at 4:34 PM
  • I drive through that intersection daily and I never go without looking left and right. It’s a dangerous intersection, especially when the sun is low.

    -- Posted by techphcy on Wed, Jan 22, 2020, at 9:52 PM
  • Does anyone know if marvin Peter's is okay by chance? I stopped to help and would like to know he is okay.

    -- Posted by pcfss@airhop.com on Tue, Jan 28, 2020, at 4:19 PM
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