St. Joseph County (7-2-20) – This afternoon an Indiana Toll Road maintenance worker, Ronald Smith ( 61) of Edwardsburg, MI. was struck and killed while performing work outside of his vehicle.

On July 2, 2020, around 1:50 p.m., Indiana State Police received calls of crash on the Indiana Toll Road, near the 81.5 mile marker eastbound, that involved a white SUV that possibly struck a pedestrian before rolling over in the ditch.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Andrew Inczauskis indicates that an Smith had parked his red maintenance truck on the right shoulder on the Toll Road with emergency lights activated. The maintenance worker exited his vehicle and was sweeping debris from the right shoulder in front of his truck when a white 2010 Toyota Highlander that was traveling eastbound is alleged to have driven off the road to the right, side-swiping the maintenance truck and then striking Smith, killing him.

The Toyota continued off the roadway, rolling over and coming to a final rest in the ditch on the south side of the road.

The driver of the Toyota, Charles Bellows (70) Wayzata, MN and passenger, Deborah Bellows (69) of Wayzata, MN, were both transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN with injuries that are believed to not be minor.

This crash investigation is ongoing but the use of alcohol and drugs is not suspected of contributing to this crash.

Indiana law requires vehicles to move into an adjacent lane or slow to at least ten miles under the speed limit when approaching emergency vehicles on the side of the road with lights activated. Highway maintenance vehicles are included under this law.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by Clay Territory Fire and EMS. The St. Joseph County Coroner, Tony’s Mobil, and ITRCC Maintenance.