One person killed after falling wood hits driver on US 35 in Starke County

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 11:47 AM

By Shelby Lopez

One person was killed in Starke County on Monday after a large piece of wood fell from a roll off dumpster, striking a vehicle and causing a crash off US 35 near Hamlet.

According to the Starke County Sheriff's Office, officers were dispatched to the area of US 35 near 700 N on the report of an accident between a commercial vehicle and passenger car just after 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 6.

Once at the scene officers determined a large piece of wood had fallen from the commercial vehicle who was carrying a roll off dumpster and traveling southbound on US 35, striking a Chevrolet Equinox who was traveling northbound on the highway. After being struck by the fallen debris the Chevrolet Equinox left the roadway before eventually coming to rest in a nearby field.

The driver of the commercial vehicle was identified as Paul Brust, age 50 of Knox.

The driver of the Chevrolet Equinox was pronounced dead as a result of the injuries from the collision. A juvenile passenger in the Chevrolet Equinox was transported to a local hospital with reported minor injuries. Pending notification of the death to family members, the driver's identity is still being withheld.

The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.