Benton County, IN – A fatal collision on U.S. 41 near Boswell claimed the life of a Boswell man and left his passenger injured. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported that 29-year-old Orlen Leonel Cruz-Reyes was killed in a crash involving a semi-truck around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Authorities say Cruz-Reyes stopped at a stop sign on Old U.S. 41 and attempted a left turn onto U.S. 41. His SUV then entered the path of an oncoming semi-truck driven by 48-year-old Valentin Andrey of Chicago, resulting in a violent collision. Emergency responders pronounced Cruz-Reyes dead at the scene.
The impact drove the semi through the median into northbound lanes before stopping. Cruz-Reyes’ 15-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Indianapolis’ Methodist Hospital. Andrey was unharmed.
Multiple agencies, including the Indiana State Police and local fire departments, assisted on-site. U.S. 41 closed during the investigation, reopening at 10 p.m. Authorities continue to investigate the crash’s cause.
