By 1st Sgt. Chad Hill, Public Information Office

Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. Team

The Kosciusko County officials have released the name of the driver involved in a pickup truck/train fatality crash that occurred last evening in the town of Mentone, Indiana.

Kosciusko County Deputy Coroner Michael Wilson has identified the fatality victim from last night’s vehicle crash in Mentone as Joseph A. Kimmel, 40, Akron. Wilson stated that Kimmel appears to have died from blunt, force trauma.

A preliminary investigation of the crash by Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. team reconstructionist determined that Kimmel had attempted to turn southbound onto State Road 19 (Franklin Street) from State Road 25 (Main Street), when his pickup truck went off the paved portion of the crossing and became stuck on the train track rails.  The pickup truck was then struck by an eastbound Norfolk Southern freight train.

The Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. team was assisted by the Mentone Police and Fire Departments, Mentone/Four-Way E.M.S., Parkview E.M.S., and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.