ISP investiges fatal accident in Sullivan County

SULLIVAN CO. – The Indiana State Police are investigating a crash between a semi tractor-trailer and pickup truck on Tuesday, at the junction of State Road 159 and County Road 350 South, that claimed the life of one individual.  

Th preliminary investigation indicated that at approximately 11:49 a.m., a 2015 Ford pickup truck was attempting to go east from County Road 350 South across State Road 159. The driver of the pickup truck 68-year-old Michael (Doug) Bailey of Robinson, Illinois, failed to observe a 2020 Volvo semi tractor-trailer driven by 45-year-old Joseph Daniels, of Pleasant Hill, Illinois.

Daniels was traveling north on State Road 159.  He applied his brakes and attempted an evasive driving maneuver but was unable to avoid the collision. 

The force of the collision caused the pickup truck to go off the roadway on the west side of State Road 159, rolling on the driver’s side and coming to a final stop.  The semi-tractor-trailer traveled off the roadway on the east side of State Road 159, jack-knifing and coming to a final stop.

Bailey died at the scene. 

Daniels was transported to Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident is being reconstructed by the Evansville State Police reconstruction team.

Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be contributing factors in the accident. 

Assisting Agencies:  Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Union Volunteer Fire Department, Linton Volunteer Fire Department, Indiana Department of Transportation. Sullivan City Fire Department, Sullivan County Coroner’s Office, and Eddington’s Wrecker Service.