The circumstances surrounding the fatal vehicle crash that happened on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 27, on the Indiana Toll Road remain under investigation, however, the following information was made available by Indiana State Police:

The preliminary investigation has revealed that at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a 2020 International semi-tractor trailer operated by a 33-year-old Illinois man became disabled and was parked on the right shoulder of the Toll Road at the westbound 115-mile marker.

A silver 2013 Ford pickup truck operated by a 16-year-old boy from Gaylord, Michigan, was traveling westbound approaching the disabled semi-tractor/trailer.

For an unknown reason, the pickup truck veered over onto the right shoulder and crashed into the rear of the disabled semi-trailer.

As a result of the crash, the teenager was ejected from his pickup truck and sustained critical injuries.

He was airlifted by Samaritan to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, last listed in serious but stable condition.

The passenger in the pick-up truck, 58-year-old Brian K. Ziemba, of Troy, Michigan, was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaGrange County Coroner.

The driver of the tractor-trailer sustained a minor head injury. He was transported by Parkview EMS to Parkview in LaGrange County for evaluation.

Due to the amount of damage sustained to Denison’s vehicle, it is unknown whether seatbelts were in use, however, the airbag deployed.

This crash investigation is ongoing.