One killed in crash on U.S. 24

HUNTINGTON COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) Update: Huntington County police have identified Earl Harris, 56 from Urbana, Indiana, as the moped driver killed in Monday morning's crash at U.S. 24 and 750 West in Huntington County.

Officials at the scene said Harris was coming off of 750 West on his moped when he hit a Jeep in one of the eastbound lanes of U.S. 24.  Harris was thrown off the moped and landed in the road. 

Police said the driver of the Jeep got out to check on Harris.  They think she went back to her vehicle to make a phone call when she realized the severity of the accident. 

Huntington County Sheriff Terry Stoffel said a semi traveling in the same direction did not see Harris laying in the road.  Stoffel said the semi driver ran over the driver, moped, and clipped the Jeep.

"[The] semi continues to drag the moped down the road, stuck underneath there with sparks flying," Stoffel said.  "[It] caught the underneath side of the semi on fire and became engulfed in flames very quickly."

Harris was killed on the scene.  Although the semi and Jeep drivers were not physically hurt, Stoffel said it's a scene that will still leave them scarred.

"She'll never forget that the rest of her life.  You know it wasn't her fault but it is definitely something that will emotionally scar her [the Jeep driver] for a long time," Stoffel said.  "Then obviously the semi driver, he did nothing but hit his brakes and try to avoid the debris on the roadway and the parked Jeep and he'll be scarred for a long time too."

The eastbound lanes of U.S. 24 were closed for more than five hours and traffic re-routed in Andrews. The road was cleared and re-opened shortly after 11:30 a.m.

The Huntington County Sheriff's Department confirmed that Harris was involved in a crash in the same area one week before Monday's crash.  Police said Harris was taken to the hospital, found to be intoxicated, and had a pending Operating While Intoxicated charge against him. 

It is unclear if alcohol was a factor in Monday's accident.  Officials are still investigating the cause.

This is the sixth traffic fatality this year in Huntington County.