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I-70 crash victims identified

Friday, January 17, 2014
The driver of this Volkswagen Beetle, David McDonald of Indianapolis, was critically injured when the car was pinned against the guardrail by an 18-wheeler. The crash resulted in Interstate 70 westbound being closed for two hours and traffic diverted to U.S. 40. (Courtesy of Indiana State Police)

The two people injured Thursday morning in the six-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 near the 30.5-mile marker have been identified.

David L. McDonald, 67, Indianapolis, suffered head and internal injuries and is in critical condition at Methodist Hospital.

Marcelin Akendengue, 51, Indianapolis, suffered possible multiple fractures and internal injuries and is in stable condition at Methodist.

Indiana State Police troopers responded to the crash at 9:20 a.m. Westbound traffic had slowed and stopped for multiple slide-offs and a crash when a westbound tractor-trailer driven by 28-year-old Rajwinder S. Brar of Ontario, Canada failed to stop and struck the stopped the traffic in the rear.

McDonald was driving a 2009 Volkswagon that was forced into the guardrail, causing his injuries.

During the initial impact with the traffic, one or more of the vehicles struck Akendengue, who was standing on the road outside his stopped 2000 Toyota Camry.

A check of the driver and tractor-trailer by Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers found no defects with the tractor-trailer or the driver.

The trucking company was Charger Logistics of Mississauga, Ontario and hauling zinc oxide. No citations were issued.

The crash was worked by ISP Sgt. Chuck Tharp. The commercial vehicle and driver inspections were conducted by ISP Master Trooper Matt Ames.

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  • How come this guy (in the semi) wasn't ticketed (a good thing) but the guy that wiped out the state police car over by Greenfield the same day was ticketed for driving to fast for current road conditions? The wrecks happened the about the same time on the same interstae about 80 or so miles apart. I guess officers from the putnamville post are more understanding.

    -- Posted by wormy772 on Sun, Jan 19, 2014, at 2:56 PM

  • Rev.David McDonald, beloved Pastor of the Clayton, IN Presbyterian Church passed away yesterday evening Jan.25,2014 at approx 7:45PM. From the injuries he received in the I-70 crash on Jan. 17,2014. Pictured above...

    Church was a very somber service this morning. Everyone asking WHY!

    We wish to thank our guest minister Rev. Roger McDaniel for leading us through a very difficult morning. It would be very nice if a notation of Rev. McDonald's passing,could be mentioned in your publication in the near future. Thank

    you sincerely. mlarne

    -- Posted by mlarne@tds.net on Sun, Jan 26, 2014, at 12:32 PM
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