Published: July 21, 2008 11:45 pm         

Crash claims life of Russiaville teen

RUSSIAVILLE — A Russiaville teenager died Monday afternoon when the bicycle he was riding collided with a tri-axle dump truck.

Howard County Sheriff deputies say Zachary Mace, 15, was riding a blue Schwinn bicycle south from Russiaville on the west edge of 750 West. He attempted to turn east onto 500 South at the same time a 1994 white Mack tri-axle dump truck was overtaking him.

Evidence at the scene indicated the driver of the truck, Stephen J. Brenton, 48, Russiaville, “applied his brakes and moved to the left, but he was unable to avoid striking the bicycle,” according to a sheriff department release. The truck, owned by C&D Express of Russiaville, was carrying a load of stone.

The truck came to rest in a soybean field on the southeast corner of the intersection.

Dispatchers received numerous 911 calls, beginning at 2:43 p.m., reporting a serious crash and emergency personnel began arriving on the scene within five minutes.

Investigators believe Mace was listening to an iPod while riding and may not have heard the truck approaching.

Deputies say Mace, who would have been a freshman at Western High School when school started, died instantly of multiple fractures, blunt force trauma and internal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene by deputy coroner Jay Price.

Although he was not injured, Sheriff Marty Talbert said Brenton was transported to Howard Regional Health System for a blood chemical test analysis, which is required by federal regulations for commercial drivers.

“Drugs and alcohol aren’t suspected in this case. It’s a matter of routine,” Talbert added.

Weighmaster Timothy Buffum of the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division assisted investigators.

“Buffum performed a level one inspection on the dump truck. According to Buffum, the dump truck appeared to be in good mechanical condition,” Talbert said.

Indiana State Police Master Trooper Robert Good, an accident reconstructionist, is also assisting deputies with the investigation.

Identifying Mace took “investigators a considerable length of time,” the sheriff said.

“Bicycles aren’t registered and Zachary Mace did not have any identification on his person. Deputy Keith Myers worked diligently to try and identify the victim. We also received invaluable assistance from officials at Western School Corporation,” said Talbert.

It was the second fatality on Howard County roads in three days. Christopher Sample, 30, was killed in a car crash Saturday on U.S. 35 east of Kokomo.

“We only had two fatals in the whole county [this year] until Saturday,” Talbert said.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Russiaville Volunteer Fire and EMS, Howard Regional paramedics and Howard County Emergency Management Agency. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Deputy John Cipriano (765) 457-1105.

     

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