Delaware man dies after being struck walking on I-74 in Montgomery County

Montgomery County — A Delaware man died Monday morning on Interstate 74 in Montgomery County when they were struck by a car.

According to Indiana State Police, just after 1 a.m. deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department and troopers from the Indiana State Police responded to a report of a fatal crash near the 38-mile marker on I-74.

A preliminary investigation by Trooper Wiley revealed that just before 1 a.m., Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single-vehicle crash on I-74 near the 39-mile marker.

According to ISP, when deputies arrived on the scene, they located a 2008 Pontiac G6 that struck the cable barrier but were unable to locate the driver. While deputies were on scene, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call of a pedestrian struck on I-74 near the 38-mile marker.

Further investigation revealed that a 2020 Volvo Semi-truck, driven by an Ohio man, was traveling westbound on I-74 near the 38-mile marker. At that time, a pedestrian was walking on I-74 in the right lane. The driver of the Volvo attempted to avoid the pedestrian but was unable to and struck him, according to ISP.

The pedestrian that was struck is believed to be the driver of the Pontiac.

Despite lifesaving efforts by Crawfordsville EMS, the pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash by the Montgomery County Coroner. The pedestrian was identified by the Montgomery County Coroner to be Jean Roodje, 23, from Laurel, Delaware.

The driver of the Volvo was uninjured in the crash.