Louisville Woman fatally injured in I-64 construction zone collision

Leah McMillen, 52, of Louisville KY, was fatally injured Friday evening, May 7 during rush hour when the right rear of her 2021 Nissan Rogue collided with a 2006 Freightliner box truck approaching a construction zone on eastbound I-64 near the 47.5 mile marker.  Preliminary investigation showed that the left lane of I-64 was closed and McMillen tried to change lanes when the collision occurred.    According to the Indiana State Police bulletin, McMillen’s vehicle, after coming into contact with the Freightliner, left the roadway on the southside, struck a tree, overturned and came to a final rest in a ditch that had approximately one foot of standing water.  McMillen was pronounced dead at the scene.  The truck driver was not injured.

Photo from 14news.com – Source: WFIE

Every year we are hired to handle these types of construction zone cases.  Fatalities in work zones are on the rise in Indiana.  There were 32 Indiana work zone fatalities in 2019 alone.  50% of these fatalities involved large commercial trucks.  Construction zones are very dangerous, especially during weekday rush hours when more people are on the road as was the case in this collision.  Sudden lane changes or closures cause trouble for large trucks or commercial vehicles who require more distance than passenger vehicles to slow down in order for other drivers to merge into the open lane of travel.  Trucks and commercial vehicles have blind spots which often make it difficult for the drivers to see other vehicles that are trying to merge into the open lane of travel. Driving through construction zones requires all drivers to be alert and aware of their surroundings.

Involved in a Construction Zone Collision with a Semi-Tractor or Trailer?

If you are involved in a crash caused by another motorist in Indiana, our knowledgeable accident lawyers are ready to help. A trucking accident can be devastating if you have suffered serious injuries, or if you have lost a loved one. Please call our talented Indiana truck accident lawyers at the law offices of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. We will help you determine the cause of the wreck and hold those responsible accountable. You can reach us online by filling out a contact form, and a representative from our office will get in touch with your shortly.

I would invite you to check out my recently published book Semitruck Wreck: A Guide for Victims and Their Families as well as my “After the Crash Podcast” videos on Youtube where I discuss in detail things that you will find helpful, especially if you’ve been in a recent crash.