Warsaw, Indiana (February 16, 2026) — A 69-year-old Rochester man was killed Monday evening after being struck by a semi-truck while attempting to retrieve cargo that had fallen from his pickup truck along U.S. 30 in Warsaw.
Authorities identified the victim as Randy Williams, of Rochester. He was pronounced dead following the collision. The crash occurred just before 6:30 p.m. in the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 at Meijer Drive.
Incident Details: According to police, Williams had parked his Ford F-150 on the shoulder of westbound U.S. 30 after cargo fell from the bed of his truck. Officials stated that his vehicle was not in the travel lanes at the time of the incident.
While Williams was outside the truck retrieving and securing the fallen cargo, he was struck by a Kenworth T680 tractor-trailer traveling westbound. A 30-year-old man from Wisconsin drove the semi.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but Williams sustained fatal injuries. The Kosciusko County Coroner later determined that his cause of death was blunt force trauma.
Authorities have not released additional information regarding the condition of the tractor-trailer driver or whether any citations have been issued.
Investigation: The crash remains under investigation. In roadway incidents involving pedestrians outside their vehicles, investigators typically examine vehicle positioning, shoulder width, visibility conditions, lighting, and traffic speed at the time of the collision.
Even when a vehicle is lawfully stopped on the shoulder, highways such as U.S. 30 often carry high-speed traffic with limited reaction time for approaching drivers. Investigators will likely analyze whether the semi-truck driver had a clear line of sight to Williams and whether evasive action, such as braking or lane adjustment, was attempted.
Crash reconstruction may include a review of skid marks, event data recorder information from the tractor-trailer, and dash camera footage if available. Investigators may also assess whether the cargo in the roadway created an unexpected hazard or contributed to the sequence of events.
When pedestrians are outside their vehicles along high-speed corridors, determining foreseeability and reaction time becomes central to understanding causation.
Legal Considerations: Incidents involving individuals struck while outside their disabled or stopped vehicles can present complex liability questions. Commercial drivers are required to exercise reasonable care and maintain proper lookout, particularly when approaching stopped vehicles or roadside activity. Further investigation would likely focus on whether the commercial driver exercised appropriate caution under the circumstances and whether roadway conditions contributed to the tragedy.
Depending on the investigation’s findings, Williams’ family may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim. If successful, such claims can help cover the financial and emotional toll of the loss, including funeral costs and any medical expenses incurred.
I offer my heartfelt condolences to Randy’s family and loved ones during this challenging period.
Source: WNDU