Bizarre S.R. 37 accident kills 3

Three are dead after a tragic accident on the Lawrence County-Orange County line.

A pickup truck was headed northbound on State Road 37 when a steel coil weighing 44,000 pounds rolled off a southbound semi-truck, crossed into the opposing lane and struck the vehicle.

The accident took place just south of the Lawrence County-Orange County line near Orleans, Ind.

Officers from Orleans Police Department, the County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police responded to the scene of the accident at 7:24 p.m., just minutes after receiving the initial call.

The pick-up truck’s driver, 22-year-old Zachary Staggs of Bedford and one of his passengers, 21-year-old Shannon Steele of Jasper, Ind., were killed. The coil then hit another car, killing its driver, 41-year-old Michael Daugherty of Mitchell, Ind., before it came to rest on the east side of the road.

Bill Fullington, accident investigator with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, said one of the survivors, Mackenzie Taylor, 11, was air-lifted to Kosair Children’s Hospital and is listed in fair condition.

“The truck and car’s safety are not in question. 44,000 thousand of cheap steal would do that to any car or truck,” Fullington said.

Orleans police officers cited the semi-trailer driver, Israel Rankin, 33, for exceeding the legal weight capacity of the ties used to fasten the coil, Fullington said.

State Road 37 remained closed for about six hours  after the accident.

Fullington said the investigation is still in progress.