Medical emergency may have contributed to one-vehicle crash

CLOVERDALE -- A medical issue likely caused a one-vehicle crash that killed a Massachusetts man Monday on Interstate 70 east of Cloverdale on Monday.

At 3:54 p.m., Indiana State Police and Putnam County emergency agencies responded to the crash in the westbound lanes near the 47-mile marker.

The driver, Francis Paquette, 74, of East Taunton, Mass., had no vital signs at the scene. Putnam County Operation Life paramedics reinstated vital signs and transported the driver to Putnam County Hospital in critical condition.

However, he later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Paquette's 1997 Ford van was westbound on I-70 and suddenly veered off the north side of the road. The vehicle entered a ditch area and struck several large bushes and a few trees.

Hospital personnel believe the driver may have had a medical emergency prior to the crash.

The crash was investigated by ISP Trooper Derek Baker. Assisting were the Cloverdale Fire/Rescue and Police Departments and Putnam County Operation Life.