According to the Starke County Sheriff’s Office on Monday April 6th, 2026, at 8:35am, Starke County Deputies were dispatched to the area of US 35 north of 700 N. in the Hamlet area for a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a commercial vehicle and passenger car.
Upon arriving, it was determined that a commercial vehicle carrying a roll off dumpster was traveling southbound on US 35 and a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox was traveling northbound on US 35. Deputies found that a large piece of wood had fell from the roll off container of the commercial vehicle, striking the northbound Chevrolet Equinox. As a result, the Chevrolet Equinox left the roadway and came to rest in a field.
The driver of the commercial vehicle was identified as Paul Brust, age 50 of Knox. The driver of the Chevrolet Equinox was pronounced dead as a result of the injuries from the collision. The driver’s identity is being withheld pending notification of family. A juvenile passenger in the vehicle was transported to a local hospital with apparent minor injuries.
