Mark Webber | The Republic Lifeline helicopter leaves the scene of a fatal accident at U.S. 31 north and County Road 800N on Thursday.
The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office has identified the man who died in a Thursday accident on North U.S. 31 near County Road 800 North as Pawel Wierzbicki, 39, of Pennsylvania. The cause of death is listed as massive trauma to the lower extremities.
He was killed in a collision on southbound U.S. 31 near the Indiana Premium Outlets Thursday, investigators said.
Two dark-colored pickup trucks were involved in the 12:11 p.m. crash, just south of County Road 800 North. Traffic on both northbound and southbound lanes were rerouted onto Executive Way and Presidential Lane to 800 North while first responders were on the scene. U.S. 31 was reopened to traffic shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday.
The Republic did request the name of the motorist driving the pickup that is believed to have hit Wierzbicki, but the department responded they are not releasing that name at this time. The name of the driver who was being assisted at the side of the roadway has also not been released.
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dane Duke emphasized the investigation is ongoing.
“A subject was on the side of the road assisting a disabled vehicle, and unfortunately was stuck by another vehicle, which resulted in a fatality,” Duke said.
A man who claims to have witnessed the accident says it appeared the first pickup was hauling a trailer carrying an engine that fell off onto the highway. It was while the victim was trying to move the engine that he was struck by the other southbound truck, the witness said.
In a press release from Duke issued Thursday night, investigators said the preliminary investigation indicated the victim had stopped to assist another motorist and was struck by another vehicle, resulting in death.
The Bartholomew County Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the accident.
The (Columbus) Republic is a sister newspaper to the Daily Journal.
