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ISU nursing student dies after semi rollover

VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) – A 19-year-old Indiana State University nursing student was killed in an accident Wednesday evening in Lyford.

Indiana State University released a statement Thursday morning. Emily Herzog, 19 of Clinton, was a nursing student at ISU as well as a member of Alpha Phi Fraternity. The release also included information that her mother, who is a senior at ISU majoring in human development and family studies. Herzog’s mother is expected to graduate in December.

The accident happened Wednesday around 6 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 41 and S.R. 163 in Lyford, commonly known as the Lyford Y.

A witness told investigators they saw the semi round the turn, lose control and roll onto Herzog’s vehicle. The driver of the semi, Charles Koontz ,43, from Knightsville, told police that his cargo shifted as he was turning. The load being carried was more than 41,000 pounds of plastic rolls.

In an effort to save the load, he crossed over the center line but was unable to keep the semi from rolling over.

Officials told WTHI that Herzog was killed in the crash and a 16-year-old passenger in her vehicle was taken to an area hospital. The 15-year-old son of Koontz was in the semi at the time of the accident, but was not injured. Koontz was treated for injuries sustained in the crash.

The condition of the 16-year-old passenger is not known.