On a cold Sunday morning in Jasper County, Indiana, Miles Williams of DeMotte, 71, died in a head‑on crash that has left a community reeling and one other man badly hurt. The crash happened just before 9 a.m. on February 8, 2026 at the intersection of State Road 110 and U.S. Highway 231, where a fully marked four‑way stop meets a stretch of road traveled by commuters and truckers alike.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department says a pickup truck headed east on State Road 110 entered the intersection and was struck by a southbound semi‑tractor trailer. The bigger rig did not stop for the posted stop sign and flashing red lights. The force of that impact shoved the larger vehicle off the roadway and into a utility pole.
Williams, who was driving the semi‑tractor trailer, was pronounced dead at the scene. Nobody can put a fine point on what he meant to his friends and family, but at 71 he had decades of stories, laughs, and hard‑earned wisdom — facets of a life now cut short. There’s a deep ache behind every name in tragedies like this one.
The driver of the pickup, 46‑year‑old David Stahl of DeMotte, survived with serious injuries. He was airlifted from the crash site by Lutheran Air to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Officials said Stahl’s airbags deployed and that he was wearing his seat belt at the time of the collision.
Investigators noted that Williams was not wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred. Airbags in the semi did not deploy. Emergency crews had to close the busy intersection for around five hours as first responders and investigators worked to clear the wreckage and piece together what happened.
Firefighters, medics, sheriff’s deputies, state police, local police and utility crews all responded swiftly that morning. Their work underlines how many hands it takes to manage these terrible moments with professionalism and respect amid chaos.
As the investigation continues, conversations in and around Jasper County are shifting toward reflection, memory and community. Lives change in a moment on the road. The focus now turns to remembering a neighbor, extending care to those healing, and encouraging safe driving for all who traverse the state’s crossroads.
