A Cincinnati man has been identified as the victim of Wednesday's crash between New Trenton and Cedar Grove.
Photo by Indiana State Police
(New Trenton, Ind.) – A Cincinnati resident was the victim of a fatal collision between a semi truck and a van in Franklin County.
Indiana State Police say Jerry Esslinger, 54, of Hartford City, Indiana, was driving a 2012 International semi hauling an empty trailer eastbound on U.S. 52 near Elkhorn Road at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
As Esslinger rounded a curve, the trailer swung wide into the path of a westbound 1999 Chevrolet van driven by Gerard P. Hendy, 73, of Cincinnati. The trailer struck the front of the van.
Hendy was pronounced dead at the scene by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office.
State police say Esslinger was not injured.
The investigation is ongoing, but troopers say alcohol is not suspected to be a factor.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Franklin County EMS, Cedar Grove Fire Department, New Trenton Fire Department, and Franklin County Coroner’s Office.
The crash closed U.S. 52 between New Trenton and Cedar Grove for nearly seven hours Wednesday.
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