Trucking Fatality

"It is a really bad situation," said INDOT Cambridge City sub-district operations manager Jerome Swim, who added that he should have results of the investigation in the next couple of days. "We are trying to find something to do. Everybody you talk to either knows someone who was almost in an accident or has had it happen to them."


Mike "Doug" Robbins, 44, of Williamsburg died early Tuesday when the pickup truck he was driving was hit by a semi driven by Linda Lou Phillips of Rock Island, Ill., that was turning left into the entrance to Love's Truck Stop.


Robbins' pickup was pinned between the turning semi and a semi driven by Edward Bacon of Georgia that was at the entrance to the truck stop.

Robbins was dead when authorities arrived on the scene. Phillips was cited for failing to yield the right of way, and Wayne County Sheriff Jeff Cappa said information has been forwarded to the prosecutor's office for further review.


According to Indiana State Police records, there had been 10 accidents prior to Tuesday in the area of U.S. 35 and Flatley Road since 2007, but Robbins was the first fatality. By comparison, there have been five accidents at U.S. 35 and Interstate 70, four at U.S. 35 and Ind. 38, four at U.S. 35 and Salisbury Road, and two at U.S. 35 and Tingler Road.


On Wednesday, Cappa said he was working with INDOT and other area leaders to try to cut down the number of accidents at the entrance to the truck stop.


"I am concerned," said Cappa, who has been sheriff for less than a week. "I spoke with Mayor (Sally) Hutton and I spoke with (Richmond Police Department Maj.) Kevin Wampler and Mr. Swim from INDOT, and we are trying to put together data so that we can present it and see what we can do collectively to get things changed."


Potential changes include the addition of warning signs or a change in speed limit.
Cappa said he has issued a directive to his department to increase enforcement in the area in hopes of reducing the potential for accidents until the INDOT investigation is complete.

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