Trucker, overcome by cough drop, drives through Indiana church

Credit: Sgt. John Bowling/Indiana State Patrol

Credit: Sgt. John Bowling/Indiana State Patrol

A truck driver from Michigan, apparently overcome by a cough drop, drove his semitrailer off I-69 north and through the Living Hope Church in Gaston, Ind., just northwest of Muncie.

A four-vehicle crash on I-69 that occurred among people who slowed to get a look at the scene resulted in no injuries, the Indiana State Police Pendleton District 51 said in a prepared statement released Friday afternoon.

Daniel Castel, 44, of Roseville, Mich., told investigators that the last thing he remembered was choking on a cough drop as he was driving north on I-69. His injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

The semi, pulling a loaded flatbed trailer, ran through the interstate fence, crossed Delaware County Road 900 West and continued into the church building on the southwest corner.

The vehicle continued through the edifice, exiting on the northwest side. The church is about 50 yards east of the interstate.

No one was inside the church, troopers said.

Troopers found out about the accident from one of several drivers who had slowed or stopped to get a look at what happened. That driver was pointing across the interstate when Trooper Seth Painter pulled up about 2 p.m. He was headed south on I-69 when he saw vehicles pulling off onto the south shoulder.

Muncie is just short of two hours northwest of Dayton.

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