LAGRANGE COUNTY — An Arizona truck driver lost both his legs after a crash in LaGrange County on Friday.
According to Indiana State Police, the crash happened on the Toll Road near the 118 mile-marker. When police got there, they found three semis strewn all across the westbound lanes of the interstate. All westbound traffic was blocked.
Several people were injured including Michael Lohman, 53, of Glendale, Arizona. Both of Lohman’s legs were severed, and he was airlifted to the hospital, in critical condition.
Police say that Lohman died on Friday night during surgery.
Lohman’s 12-year-old son was a passenger in his semi. He only has a minor injury, and was taken to the hospital. He was then released and taken to his mother in Fort Wayne.
A second truck driver, Ben M. Tehrani, 37, also had a minor injury to his neck. He was taken to the hospital as well.
Police say that at the time of the crash, there was road construction traffic in the westbound lanes. Michael Lohman was driving an orange semi. When he approached the traffic, he didn’t stop, and crashed into the back of Tehrani’s semi. A third semi was also hit during the crash — its driver, Elvis Maskuti, 36, was not injured.
According to police, Lohman was not wearing his seatbelt, but everyone else was.
Troopers report that Lohman was not wearing his seatbelt, but his passenger and the other drivers were all properly restrained.
Police said they believe the primary cause of the crash was distracted driving from using a cellphone.
