The semi didn’t even slow down before it hit them—that’s what shaken witnesses told deputies after a violent collision at the intersection of **U.S. 30 and Queen Road** on Tuesday morning claimed one life and left another hanging by a thread. According to the **Marshall County Sheriff’s Department**,
61-year-old **Nicolae Pavel**, the driver of a westbound tractor-trailer, ran a red light and slammed into a southbound **Chevrolet pickup** driven by **Richard Louzon**, 77, of Plymouth.The impact was catastrophic. Louzon’s pickup was struck broadside and spun violently before coming to rest mangled beyond recognition.
Deputies and firefighters rushed to the scene, but there was nothing they could do for Louzon—he was pronounced dead before paramedics could even extract him from the wreck. His passenger, **20-year-old Katelynn Pekofske**, suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to **Memorial Hospital in South Bend**, where doctors continue to fight to save her life.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos and disbelief, with debris scattered across multiple lanes and traffic backed up for miles in both directions. Investigators are now reconstructing the crash to determine exactly how it happened and whether speed, distraction, or fatigue played a role in Pavel’s failure to stop. Toxicology testing is also standard procedure in such cases, though no charges had yet been filed as of Tuesday evening.
For the Plymouth community, the loss of **Richard Louzon** is being felt deeply. Friends remember him as a kind, hard-working man devoted to his family and known for his warmth and reliability. As Katelynn fights to recover, neighbors and loved ones have rallied together, praying for a miracle and for justice to follow. What began as an ordinary morning drive ended in tragedy—a moment of recklessness that changed multiple lives forever.
