Local News

Charges in Cell Phone Fatality

(Crown Point, IN) - A La Porte man was killed when hit by a truck driver who allegedly watched pornography while driving.

 

69-year-old Clark Johnson was charged Monday with reckless homicide and other offenses.

 

According to authorities, the victim, 63-year-old Martin Knip, was part of a highway crew about a year and a half ago in Lake County. The La Porte man was driving a tanker truck filled with heated tar spread on freshly ground rumble strips along the shoulder of the road.

 

Another crew member followed him when the truck driver struck them from behind. It’s alleged the semi-driver from Illinois was on a cell phone watching a pornographic website. 

 

Authorities said there were no hands-free devices in the rig.

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