Three members of Portland family fatally injured when SUV struck by garbage truck

PORTLAND, Ind. —Three members of a Portland family were fatally injured this week in a traffic accident on Ind. 67 near Jay County High School.

Authorities said a SUV driven by Nancy LeMaster, 57, had been stopped at Jay County Road 75-S's intersection with the state highway before she pulled into the path of a Waste Management garbage truck.

After the garbage truck — driven by Zachery E. Montgomery, 36, of Hartford City  —struck LeMaster's vehicle, the SUV rolled onto its side.

LeMaster and her mother, Betty LeMaster, 97, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Her other passenger — LeMaster's father, 89-year-old Paul LeMaster — was taken by ambulance to IU Health Jay Hospital, where he died.

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Montgomery was not injured.

Indiana State Police are investigating the crash, which was reported shortly before 10 a.m. Monday.

A memorial service for all three members of the family will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Fellowship Baptist Church, 289 S. Jay County Road 200-W.

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Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.