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Identities Of The Four Fatal Victims Released

Last updated on Wednesday, May 17, 2017

(VIGO CO.) - Indiana State Police and the Vigo County Coroner’s Office have officially identified the four victims from the May 13th three vehicle crash on Interstate 70 near the four mile marker.

Deceased driver of the tractor-trailer is 38-year-old Jeffrey D. Kolkman of Jenison, Michigan.

Deceased occupants of the Toyota passenger car were the driver, 48-year-old Brian E. Lee of West Terre Haute; his 23-year-old son, Aaron M. Lee of West Terre Haute, (front seat passenger) and a female companion, 45-year-old Stephanie Swaim of Brazil, (rear seat passenger).

Vigo County Coroner Dr. Susan Amos added that all four victims died upon impact.

The families have been notified from the onset.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information concerning the crash, is urged to contact the investigating officer, Master Trooper Jason Schoffstall at the Putnamville Post, 765.653.4114.

No other information will be released at this time.

Earlier - Authorities say four people are dead after a tractor-trailer slammed into the back of a car and then hit a flatbed truck hauling steel bars in western Indiana.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts says the car erupted into flames after it was hit Saturday evening along Interstate 70 west of Terre Haute. Three occupants in the car were killed.

Watts says the tractor-trailer then hit the Maverick flatbed truck, and steel bars on the flatbed skewered the tractor-trailer, killing the driver.

Watts says the accident occurred as traffic slowed in the eastbound lanes because of an active fire. Watts says the tractor-trailer failed to slow before rear-ending the car.

The accident closed the eastbound lanes of I-70 in the area, creating long traffic backups.

The crash is being investigated by ISP Master Trooper Jason Schoffstall.

Others assisting were ISP Putnamville Troopers, ISP Crash Reconstructionists, ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers, Vigo County Sheriff's Office, Vigo County Coroner's Office, Terre Haute Fire Department, Sugar Creek Fire/Rescue, Seelyville Fire/Rescue, Honey Creek Fire/Rescue, Otter Creek Fire/Rescue, Riley Fire/EMS, Vigo County Hazmat Team, IDEM, and Peffley and Hinshaw Wrecker Service.

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