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Last updated on Wednesday, June 3, 2015
(VIGO CO.) - Tuesday afternoon Indiana State Police Troopers and Terre Haute Police officers were called to the westbound bridge over US 41 for a male pedestrian acting erratic.
Callers to Vigo County Central Dispatch reported the male appeared to wanting to "jump" off the bridge onto US 41.
Other callers stated the male was running into the westbound lanes of traffic. Moments before officers arrived, the male ran southbound from the north edge of the bridge into the westbound passing lane and into the path of a westbound tractor-trailer.
Terre Haute Fire Department Paramedics worked tirelessly on 26-year-old David Michael Johnson, of Terre Haute, but he was ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.
The tractor-trailer was operated by 78-year-old, Louis Joe Svehlak, of Lubbock, Texas and operated under authority of 2 Rivers Transportation of Sioux City, Nebraska. The 2007 Freightliner tractor was pulling a box trailer loaded with food items en route from Napoleon, Ohio to The Colony, Texas. Svehlak was given a standard chemical test at Terre Haute Regional Hospital and tested negative for illegal substances. A routine commercial vehicle check by ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Master Trooper Matt Ames found no deficiencies with the driver or tractor-trailer.
The westbound lanes were closed for approximately 70 minutes. Traffic was rerouted onto State 46 as well as off the westbound exit ramp and right back onto the westbound entrance ramp.
The crash was investigated by ISP Sergeant Angie Hahn. Assisting were ISP Troopers Brian Thomas, Michael Organ, and Sergeant Joe Watts, as well as several officers from the Terre Haute Police Department, Indiana State University Police, Vigo County Sheriff's Office, Terre Haute Firefighters and Paramedics from Station 9, and Vigo County Coroner Dr. Susan Amos.
An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow on the deceased.
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