7 dead as tractor-trailer rams minivan in Ind.

BRISTOL, Ind. - A tractor-trailer slammed into the back of a packed minivan in northern Indiana late Thursday, killing at least seven people and sending four others to hospitals, authorities said.

The minivan was carrying 10 people when it was hit along the Indiana Toll Road near Bristol, just south of the Michigan border, according to Indiana State Police. Witness accounts suggest that the minivan may have hit a deer, then slowed or stopped in the eastbound lanes before it was hit from behind by the tractor-trailer, police said.

Seven of the minivan's occupants died at the scene and the other three were taken to hospitals, including two who were airlifted. The driver of the tractor-trailer also was hospitalized.

None of the victims' names has been released. The conditions of those who survived also haven't been released.

State Police spokesman Sgt. Trent Smith said early Friday that the minivan had an Illinois license plate, and the truck had a Wisconsin tag. Both vehicles ended up in the center median, blocking traffic in both directions.

"That's not to say that the driver of the truck was from Wisconsin or the driver of minivan was from Illinois, but that's where the vehicles were registered," Smith said.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, which was reported shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday. The crash shut down the toll road, though it was reopened just before midnight.

Other details weren't immediately available, Smith said.

[niquobear]

TellitTrue, You are correct they have one of the best safety records in the industry. The company is celebrating 50 years in business, so it is not a fly-by-night company. You have to be the best of the best to drive for this company. There turnover rate is low, my husband has worked for them for 33 years and has 4.4 million safe driving miles with Roehl. There pay package is fine, they are a very reputable, and only hire the cream of the crop. They have safety rules that are to be followed by all drivers that they hire. They have to keep there log books correct and true. I talk to many of the drivers when I pick mine up and they don't complain about working for Roehl. They are happy to have a job there, because they know the high standards Roehl holds them accountable for.

[niquobear]

Ms_enza,
I have been married to a truck driver for 28 1/2 years. He has 4.4 million safe driving miles on the road. He travels all lower 48 Canada and has been to Alaska once. I have seen so many people of 4 wheelers cut off truck drivers all the time. People need to realize they are pulling 80,000 pounds at any given time. You can not shut down that kind of weight within seconds. It takes time to bring it to a stop, my husband actually works for the company that was involved. They have very reputable drivers, with very strict safety rules they have to follow. There log books have to be up to date and true. They only hire the best of the best. The true story will come out, please give the truck driver the chance to tell his side of the story before you demonize the trucking industry. The truck drivers give up there families for weeks on end to make sure you have a bed to sleep in, food in your frig, and a frig to store it. Yes you pay for it with your paycheck, but they give up there family to provide a service to all of us. They don't get paid a great amount for what they give up. Please realize they don't want to be involved in such a horrific accident, they work very hard at trying to be safe on the road. Because believe it or not they have families they want to see again also. They are hard working and give up alot to bring the goods to the stores.

[cbsnews_viewer]

The most common reason is lack of stopping distance. I have seen both passenger vehicles and commercial truckers drive recklessly. Its a deep subject. I often see cars cut off truckers and I also see truckers that never adjust their speed. Many drivers drive as if nothing is going to go wrong (like hitting a deer). When your on the road for many, many hours you eventually see everything. If you do anything unsafe, its only a matter of time before the odds get you.

[LizInPA]

It is useless to assign blame to "the trucker" or to "the minivan" at this point. There are too few details included in the story at this point. All experienced drivers have witnessed knuckleheads in every type of vehicle driving dangerously. Do not take the acts of other drivers personally you have no idea what is going on in their head - if they "want" to pass you allow it and let them move on out of your life. Mind your own vehicle and how you operate it. Do not be the one creating hazards on the road. Do not be a passenger or allow your loved ones to be a passenger in a vehicle operated by an aggressive or otherwise poor driver. If the "other" guy on the road is a jerk prove you are the better person by simply getting out of their path.

[rwdssd7]

oops sorry, the program has been reopened refunded and snuck across our noses. (sorry about the mis-type)

[rwdssd7]

Unfortunately that was once true. As of 1 week ago, There is one Mexican transportation company that has been granted permanent operating access to the USA, under a so called "pilot program". As a professional driver myself, I see these things everyday. Drivers who do not speak the language and do not know the regulations. The regulation actually states they must be able to read and write English in order to complete regulated and required paperwork (including but not limited to mandated hour of service records) and speak English in order to communicate with law enforcement. (they do not have to be fluent).

The new pilot program is required under NAFTA and is being funded by US Tax Dollars. The US Taxpayer is paying for electronic on board recorders, GPS tracking and other things so that these trucks from the southern border can cross and operate. The company that was just granted permanent operating authority was part of the original pilot program that Congress pulled the plug on when they voted to cut off the money. It has not been reopened, refunded and snuck across our noses and our highways (just like they sneak across the border).

[jtdev1]

Oh don't worry people,

The days of the "American Trucker" are numbered.

It will now be the "Mexican Trucker"....

[Robert_In_Texas]

Are you armchair NHSTA investigator done blaming the trucker? Check other sources and look at photos from the scene you'll see that the van was struck by the rig's right side. Witness statements say the mini-van stopped or slowed down and was changing lanes from the travel lane when struck, meaning the truck was in right lane and the van crossed in front of the truck's path. The toll road is built with emergency shoulders on both sides but it appears that the van decided to pull to the right,crossing the right hand lane. Assuming a unloaded vehicle at a 34,000 lbs, the results would have been the same at 55 mph. SO until the investigation is complete assume nothing!!

[Nuff__said]

Does your comment/opinion include the "armchair" crash investigation result as well?

[choptopford]

Its time to clamp down on Trucker &0% can,t drive ,think they own the road and if you don,t move they will ride you tell you do ,and they know the Cops won,t touch them

[chexmix76]

do you even know what you are talking about?!!!!! my boyfriend is a truck driver and a dam good one!!! he sees the idiocy of drivers everyday and has managed not to hit one of them!!!!!! not all tuck drivers are bad people or bad drivers...they just encounter guys like you..who think they know everything!!!!!not to say that all truckers are good drivers...in this economy many trucking companies are flooded with students young and old hoping to get hired and many of them have never been behind the wheel of a big rig.....so yes accidents do happen but don't be too quick to judge all oh and i bet if you were behind the wheel of the big truck can you honestly say you would have been able to stop on a dime?....most people are forgetting that trucks are transporting a load that can weigh over 46,ooo pounds...its called inertia...basic science!!!!!!!!

[cmixxx]

The tea party wants to know how is the "cargo" the driver is carrying and when will it be delivered to the rich folks awaiting its now delayed delivery. Get used to scenes like this as government control is gutted and the rich business/commerce interests flourish!!!

[legalizemj]

I can't believe you and I read the same article! Little obsessed with your own agenda maybe?