Driver falls asleep, crashes into other vehicle, leaves one passenger dead

LAGRANGE COUNTY, Ind. -- The LaGrange County Sheriff's Department reports deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash which occurred near 5410 South S.R. 5 in Topeka on Thursday, June 27, at 5:28 a.m.

The report states a 2012 Dodge Caravan, driven by 74-year-old James Goodwin of Syracuse, was traveling south on S.R. 5 when it's believed Goodwin fell asleep and crossed the center line into the northbound lane.

A 2002 Pontiac Montana, driven by 61-year-old Martin Macias Rodriguez of Ligonier, was traveling northbound on S.R. 5 approaching Goodwin.

Rodriguez told deputies he attempted to avoid the crash, however, was unsuccessful and Goodwin struck the Pontiac on the right-side of the front-end.

One passenger, identified as 58-year-old Rafael Beccerra, with Rodriguez suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Parkview LaGrange Hospital. Beccerra was positioned in the right rear seat at the time of the collision.

A second passenger in the Pontiac, identified as 53-year-old Abel Dominguez Salazar, was in the right front passenger seat at the time of the collision.

Salzar was entrapped and extracted by Topeka Fire Department.

Salazar became unresponsive on scene, and despite life saving measures, Salazar was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Indiana State Police performed a full crash reconstruction, and the crash remains under investigation.