DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. — A Delaware County sheriff’s deputy was killed early Wednesday morning after being struck by a tractor-trailer while assisting a stranded semi along Interstate 69 near Yorktown.

^{Photo credit: Kit Hanley}

According to FOX59, Corporal Blake Reynolds, 31, stopped to help a disabled tractor-trailer around 3:30 a.m. when another semi lost control and crashed into his patrol vehicle and the parked rig. Reynolds, who was standing outside at the time, was hit by the impact. Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, he died from his injuries.

The driver of the second tractor-trailer, identified as 39-year-old Teddy M. Johnson of New Haven, was airlifted to IU Health Methodist Hospital and underwent surgery. His condition remains unknown. The crash shut down northbound lanes of I-69 for more than eight hours as investigators worked to document the scene and collect video footage from the trucks involved.

^{Photo credit: Kit Hanley}

Reynolds, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran, joined the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office in 2022 and was recently promoted to corporal. He had just married in June and was described by his colleagues as a rising leader in the department.

^{Photo credit: Delaware County Sheriff’s Office}

“Blake was known for his unwavering dedication to duty, his compassion for others, and his deep commitment to serving the people of Delaware County,” Chief Deputy Jeff Stanley said. “His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family, his brothers and sisters in uniform, and the entire community he served with pride.”

Law enforcement agencies across Indiana have offered condolences, and a procession Wednesday drew hundreds of officers and residents lining the streets to honor Reynolds. The crash remains under investigation by Indiana State Police.

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