Driver from Monday's fatal accident likely died from heart disease

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Franklin Heide is the man who was found dead Monday inside his pickup truck after it left the road and hit a tree near Washington and Walnut streets in West Point, Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello said.

Heide, 61, suffered only minor scrapes and bruises from the crash, Costello said of the findings of Wednesday's autopsy. The pathologist determined these were not the cause of Heide's death.

The autopsy found 90% blockage in an artery and, pending toxicology reports, it is likely that Heide's cause of death will be natural from heart disease, Costello said.

Heide, who is from Tippecanoe County, was driving north on Washington Street about 4 p.m. Monday when his truck left the road and struck a tree near Walnut Street, according to the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office investigation.

Deputies arriving on the scene found Heide dead inside his truck, according to the sheriff's office.

Final cause and manner of death are pending toxicology reports, which take about six weeks, Costello said.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.