The tight-knit community of Plymouth, Indiana, is reeling after a fatal traffic collision Tuesday morning that claimed the life of 77-year-old Richard Louzon and left 20-year-old Katelynn Pekofske fighting for her life. The crash happened at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Queen Road, and the sequence of events has shaken many in the area.
Deputies with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office report that Louzon was driving a south-bound Chevrolet pickup truck on Queen Road when a west-bound semi-tractor trailer, driven by 61-year-old Nicolae Pavel, failed to stop at a red traffic signal and plowed into Louzon’s vehicle. Witnesses described the semi as proceeding through the light, striking the pickup with tremendous force.
Emergency personnel arrived swiftly, dispatching two medical helicopters. Louzon was transported but later pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Katelynn Pekofske of Walkerton, was critically injured and airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where she remains in intensive care.
Friends and family remember Richard as the essence of kindness, humility and community spirit. Known for his quiet strength, gentle humor and unwavering willingness to help—he leaned in when neighbors needed a hand, lent an ear when friends sought guidance, and never missed a chance to share a story with his grandchildren. In a place where everyone knows someone who knows someone, his absence feels deeply personal.
The suddenness of Richard’s loss has cast a long shadow across Plymouth. In the hours following the crash, neighbors gathered, sharing memories of his warm presence and steady heart. The grief, made more complicated by the fact that Katelynn remains in critical condition, has brought the community together in prayer and support.
Investigators with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office continue to explore the cause of the crash. The semi’s failure to stop at a red light has emerged as a central focus of the inquiry, and additional details regarding speeding, driver distraction or other contributing factors have not yet been released.
Meanwhile, Richard’s family has asked for space and privacy as they navigate the unimaginable loss of a beloved father, grandfather, friend—and reliable presence in their lives. His memory, they say, will live on in the small, meaningful acts of service he quietly offered to those around him.
The people of Plymouth hold onto sorrow and hope in equal measure: sorrow for the life cut short, and hope for Katelynn’s recovery and for peace to begin healing the wounds of the community. Richard Louzon’s legacy of compassion and generosity will remain a flicker of light in these difficult days. May he rest in peace.
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