By Scott Smith

CNHI News Service

TIPTON -- Two semitrailers collided at U.S. 31 and Indiana 28 early Tuesday, resulting in the death of one driver, Tipton County Sheriff deputies reported.

According to Deputy Jesse Francis, a truck driven by Bill Maseman, 38, South Carolina, carrying milk products from the Anderson Nestlé plant was headed westbound on Ind. 28 at 2:30 a.m., and entered the intersection at the same time as a truck carrying drywall on a flatbed.

The westbound truck ran head-on into the flatbed of the northbound truck, demolishing the cab of the westbound truck and killing its Maseman, deputies said.

Maseman drove for Continental Express of Sidney, Ohio, which is a contractor for Nestlé, according to Pam Krebs, spokeswoman for Nestlé in Anderson.

Krebs said she isn’t sure of the procedures Nestlé will take following the accident but “people are aware of it,” she said Tuesday evening.

“We certainly offer our condolences to the gentleman’s family,” said Krebs.

A call to Continental Express connected with a dispatcher who said to call back today to reach a spokesman concerning the accident.

Northbound and southbound lanes of the highly traveled U.S. 31 were shut down for more than six hours Tuesday, including during the morning rush hour. One lane southbound was reopened shortly after 8 a.m.

The driver of the northbound truck and a passenger in that truck were uninjured, deputies said.

The Herald Bulletin contributed to this story.