3 Killed When Steel Coil Falls From Truck Posted by DC Cargo Mall on August 05, 2010

Three people died Monday night when a tractor trailer lost its load in Orleans, Ind.The accident happened around 7:30 p.m. Monday on State Road 37 at the Orange-Lawrence County line. Three people in two cars were killed.

The truck driver, 33-year-old Israel Rankin, of Paoli, Ind., told police he was forced to slam on his brakes a few minutes prior to the crash. Rankin said after that his load didn't feel right.As the truck entered Orange County and came into a curve, the chains broke. The 44,000 pound coil of steel bounced off his truck and slammed into two oncoming vehicles.A Chevy S-10 pickup was hit first by the coil. The driver, 22-year-old Zachary Staggs, of Bedford, Ind., and his 21-year-old girlfriend, Shannon Steele, of French Lick, Ind., were killed instantly.The other passenger, Staggs' 11-year-old sister Mackenzie Taylor, was airlifted to Kosair Children's Hospital with serious injuries. She was last listed in fair condition. A Chevy Aveo was hit after the pickup. The driver of the car, 41-year old Michael Daughtery, of Mitchell, Ind., was pronounced dead on the scene."This one hits home. I used to coach the boy of the truck driver and Mr. Daughtery, even though he lives in Lawrence County, his family is in Orange County, he went to school in Orange County and the 21-year-old girl is from French Lick. Even though they have addresses in other counties, they are all Orange County people," said Orange County Sheriff spokesman Bill Fullington.The truck driver was not cited for any violations.The sheriff's department will send the accident paperwork to the prosecutor, but no charges are expected to be filed.

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