Authorities have identified the two people who lost their lives in a devastating multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 69 in Allen County, Indiana, on Wednesday. The victims were 15-year-old Drew Stephen Saddington of Fort Wayne and 70-year-old Bradley Dale Maller of Kokomo.
According to officials, the fatal collision occurred near the 295-mile marker on I-69, south of the Interstate 469 interchange in the Roanoke area. The crash involved three semi-trucks and three passenger vehicles, resulting in a complex chain-reaction collision that claimed two lives and prompted an extensive emergency response.
Preliminary findings from the Allen County Sheriff’s Department indicate that a southbound semi-truck struck a passenger vehicle that had stopped in traffic. After the initial impact, the semi continued forward, colliding with a second passenger vehicle before crashing into another semi-truck.
Investigators say a second semi-truck then struck a third passenger vehicle, which was pushed into a third semi-truck, causing further damage and disruption along the interstate.
The Allen County Coroner’s Office reported that Drew Stephen Saddington died from blunt impact injuries, while Bradley Dale Maller succumbed to blunt force injuries sustained during the crash.
The tragic incident marks the 15th and 16th traffic-related fatalities recorded in Allen County this year. Family members, friends, and community members are mourning the loss of both victims as they remember their lives and the impact they had on those around them.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Allen County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Authorities have not released additional details as the investigation remains ongoing.
The thoughts and condolences of the community are with the families and loved ones of Drew Stephen Saddington and Bradley Dale Maller during this difficult time.
