(La Porte County, IN) - A 14-year-old boy killed this morning in a freak traffic accident on U.S. 30 was a South Central School Corporation student.

 

Joseph Oehmen and his mother, Angela Oehman, were both pronounced dead at the scene, according to La Porte County Police. A third passenger in their vehicle was transported to an area hospital with an upper-body injury.

 

According to police, a tractor-trailer had just exited the Plaza 30 Truck Stop and began to travel eastbound on U.S. 30 when the trailer separated from the semi. The trailer was in the eastbound driving lane when struck by the 2022 Kia driven by Oehman, who also was traveling eastbound, police said. Her vehicle hit the rear of the trailer.

 

The truck driver, David Sutton, 47, of Fulton, Indiana, was not injured.

 

The investigation of the crash is ongoing.

 

South Central School Corporation Superintendent Ben Anderson is asking for privacy as members of the school community mourn and grieve the loss.

 

La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson said her office was called to the scene at about 8 a.m.