Man dies in U.S. 40 crash

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GREENFIELD — Police say foggy conditions are to blame for a crash that left a motorcyclist dead Thursday morning.

James Minchin, 61, of Greenfield, was killed when his motorcycle collided with a truck that pulled out in front of him as he rode down U.S. 40 around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

The driver of the truck looked both ways before pulling out into the intersection, according to a press release. But investigators believe the truck driver didn’t see Minchin because of a fog that hung in the air that morning.

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The wreck happened at the intersection of U.S. 40 and County Road 400E (also called Jaycie Phelps Road in Greenfield).

Officers from the Greenfield Police Department and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department’s fatal-accident crash team responded to investigate.

The truck driver, whose name was not released, was driving north on County Road 400E and stopped at a stop sign at U.S. 40. Minchin’s motorcycle was traveling east on the highway.

Police say the driver of the truck looked both ways before entering the intersection, but didn’t see the approaching motorcycle.

The motorcycle then collided with the truck.

Police believe fog Thursday morning made it difficult to see, and the motorcycle was not noticed by the driver of the truck.

Minchin died at the scene as a result of the crash, according to the press release.

U.S. 40 was closed for several hours while police investigated. The roadway had reopened by 9 a.m., official said.