Missouri man dies in Interstate 70 crash

CLOVERDALE — A Missouri man was killed Wednesday night when his vehicle rear-ended a semi trailer.

Kenneth David Harrah, 50, St. Peters, Mo., was pronounced dead at the scene from his injuries.

Indiana State Police and Putnam County emergency agencies were dispatched to westbound Interstate 70 near the 39-mile marker at 11:05 p.m.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2018 Dodge passenger vehicle, driven by Harrah, was traveling in the right-hand lane approaching the rear of a tractor-trailer driven by 60-year-old Pritpal Singh of Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

For an unknown reason, Harrah failed to slow or change lanes to avoid the tractor-trailer, ultimately striking the rear of the trailer.

Early indications are the tractor-trailer was traveling at or near normal speed when the faster-moving Harrah vehicle struck the rear of the trailer.

According to Putnam County Coroner Dave Brown, an autopsy was scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, with toxicology results pending later.

The crash was investigated by ISP Trooper Austin Fowler. Assisting were ISP Sgt. Cory Robinson; troopers Kyle Hall, Colton Maynor and Tim Rader; Putnam County Sheriff’s Office; Putnam County Operation Life; Putnam County Coroner’s Office; Cloverdale Police Department; Cloverdale Fire and Rescue; and Curtis Wrecker Service.