MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ind – Monday morning around 7:20 A.M. a semi struck a passenger vehicle that was stopped in the roadway, on I-74 westbound at the 32.5 mile-marker.

Indiana State Police say that the preliminary investigation has concluded that a gray 2013 Dodge Journey was westbound when the vehicle struck a deer which disabled the car in the right lane.  The vehicle at the time did not appear to have operational lights working after the crash.

A red 2019 Kenworth owned by Dusharm Transport out of Hoffman Estates, IL and driven by 55-year-old Kenneth M. Dusharm, of Carmel, Ind. was also in the right lane and did not see the disabled Dodge and struck the car in the rear, pushing it through the median, across the eastbound lanes and coming to rest in the ditch on the south side of the interstate blocking both lanes of traffic.

The driver of the Dodge was 26-year-old Christina Mendoza, of Hillsboro, Ind.  She was pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner.

Dusharm was not injured.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash.

Police say that at the time of the crash the road was wet and there was light fog in the area.

The interstate was closed eastbound for about four and a half hours for re-construction of the crash, caring for the injured and cleanup of the crash scene.