Illinois trucker was allegedly watching porn on phone before crashing into victim and killing him

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (TCD) -- An Illinois man was allegedly on a porn website when he crashed his truck into a construction worker who was driving a tar tanker, killing him.

Lake County court records show Clark Johnson was charged this week with reckless homicide, two counts of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, two counts of distracted driving causing bodily injury, and distracted driving.

According to the Northwest Indiana Times, Johnson was reportedly driving a tractor with a trailer attached northbound on U.S. 41 in Lowell, Indiana, when he passed signs indicating construction work ahead. The victim, Martin Knip, reportedly steered a tar tanker while another employee drove a GMC Sierra pickup truck behind Knip. The two men reportedly had their flashing amber lights on and the pickup truck also had a strobe light flashing.

The man driving the pickup truck reportedly noticed Johnson behind him and swerved out of the way to avoid being hit, the Northwest Indiana Times reports. Johnson’s vehicle reportedly hit the corner of the pickup truck and then crashed into Knip’s tanker. According to the Northwest Indiana Times, tar from Knip’s tractor scattered across the road as the trailer dislodged itself from the tractor.

Knip’s truck reportedly landed upside-down on top of the tank, leaving him stuck inside. He was declared dead from blunt force trauma. The pickup truck driver reportedly sought treatment for pain in his upper back and shoulders.

According to The Associated Press, Johnson said he was driving at about 55 to 65 mph when he collided with Knip’s vehicle.

The Northwest Indiana Times reports police obtained a search warrant for Johnson’s phone and learned he was surfing a website with pornographic material on it before he crashed.

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