Three Vehicle Crash on Indiana Toll Road
Claims Life of Virginia Man

(Steuben County, IN)-The Indiana State Police is investigating a three vehicle crash which occurred late this morning on the Indiana Toll Road and claimed the life of a man from Virginia.

Preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Tony Lomonaco indicates at approximately 11:40 a.m., a 2015 International box truck, driven by 44 year old Shawn L. Alston of Chesterfield, Virginia was traveling westbound near the 144.5 mile marker, one-half mile east of the Fremont exit.

For an unknown reason, Alston’s truck drove through the center median and into the eastbound lanes of traffic.  It was struck in the passing lane by a 2018 Freightliner tractor-trailer combination, driven by 54 year old Derwin W. Patton of LaGrange, Indiana.   Because of that collision, a 2019 Freightliner tractor-trailer combination, driven by 31 year old Sardor Y. Hidirov of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then struck Patton’s vehicle.

As a result of the initial crash, Alston suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Steuben County Coroner Rodney Snyder.  Patton was transported to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne with non-life-threatening injuries, and was expected to be treated and released.  Hidirov was not injured and both he and Patton were wearing their seatbelts at the time.  It is unclear whether Alston was wearing his.

At this time, this crash remains under investigation pending autopsy and toxicology results.  Lomonaco was assisted by the Fremont Fire Department, the Indiana Toll Road Commission, Indiana Conservation Officers, Steuben County EMA, Steuben County EMS and the Steuben County Coroner.

-30-