MONROE COUNTY — A Monroe County Sheriff's Office reserve deputy was killed in a crash while responding to another crash on Monday.
Reserve Deputy James Driver was responding to a crash when he was involved in another crash around 4 p.m. near West State Road 45 and West Eller Road, according to a press release from the sheriff's office. He was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital and later died.
He had his lights and sirens on while responding to the original crash, according to the release.
Another driver, a 22-year-old man, of Monticello, Illinois, attempted to stop, lost control, went into the southbound lanes and his trailer struck Driver's vehicle, according to a press release Indiana State Police. Driver's car rolled off the roadway and he was thrown from the car.
The driver of the other truck involved in the crash was not injured but was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital for a voluntary blood draw, according to the release from state police. Those results are pending. None of the passengers in his truck were injured.
Driver is originally from the United Kingdom and lived in Spencer, according to the release. He became a reserve deputy in June 2018 and graduated from the office's reserve academy.
He had a wife, Anna Driver, a daughter and two step-children.
Indiana State Police troopers are investigating the crash.
Visitation for James Driver will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 East Rogers Road in Bloomington. The funeral services will begin at 2 p.m.
Due to the pandemic, social distancing and face masks will be required for those attending the service, according to state police.
The following obituary for James Driver was released by Indiana State Police:
James A. Driver, 38, of Spencer, went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 29, 2021, in a traffic accident while working as a Deputy Sheriff for Monroe County. James was born in Upney, United Kingdom, on December 27, 1982, to Kathleen (Keys) Driver and Alan M. Driver. James graduated from Ivy Tech Community College with a degree in HVAC and was a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for Monroe County, Indiana. James loved helping others and was an excellent role model. James is survived by his beloved grandmother, Annie Keys; parents Kathleen and Alan; wife, Anna M. (Argenbright) Driver; children, Beau Woodruff, Franklin Woodruff, LilyAnne Marie Driver; sister, Maria (Driver) Yazamaidi; niece, Grace; nephew, Oliver; his Aunties, Uncles and Cousins; and many, many friends. James was preceded in death by his grandparents, Marie and Alfred Driver and, grandfather, James Keys
Donations may be made to the Fallen Heroes Foundation through the funeral home at West & Parrish & Pedigo Funeral Home, 105 North Montgomery Street, Spencer, Indiana, 47460.
A fund has been set up through Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation to support Driver's family.
