Benjamin Lehman Death – A tragic incident occurred when a teenager lost his life while attempting to assist in towing a car out of a ditch. The victim, 16-year-old Benjamin Lehman, was struck on State Road 5 in the vicinity of County Road 750 South. The unfortunate accident took place around 1 a.m. on Sunday.
According to authorities, Lehman and the driver, 16-year-old Jon Helmuth from Howe, Indiana, skidded off the road and collided with a ditch due to the snowy conditions. Jacob Nickerson, 32, who was driving a pickup truck, stopped to offer assistance in pulling the car out. Lehman exited the vehicle to aid Nickerson.
Tragically, the teenager was subsequently struck by a third vehicle driven by Stan Trusty, 40. The report indicates that Trusty was unable to see the tow line connecting the two vehicles. Regrettably, Lehman was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Chief Deputy Juan C. Arroyo of the Lagrange County Sheriff’s Office informed USA Today via email that the weather conditions and visibility were extremely poor at the time, with blowing snow.
The police are currently conducting an investigation into the crash.