Lafayette man and former ISP trooper killed in pedestrian accident
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Theodore Dudzinski saw his share of traffic accidents during his 33 years as a trooper with the Indiana State Police, and Wednesday, he tragically became a fatality victim.
Dudzinski, 87, tried to walk west across Ninth Street near St. Boniface around 11:50 a.m. Wednesday on his way to mass, and he walked into the path of a northbound car driven by a 17-year-old girl, Lafayette police said.
The accident was unavoidable for the teenage driver, who was not impaired, police said.
Dudzinski suffered head and lower body injuries, police said. He was rushed to Franciscan Health Hospital, where he died about 8:40 a.m. Thursday, police said.
Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello said that the final autopsy findings are pending toxicology reports.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Jeremy Piers said Dudzinski retired on July 31, 1990.
His obituary at Hippensteel Funeral Services, indicates that Dudzinski is survived by his wife, Carolyn, whom he married in 1960. He also is survived by their children: Marie (Kevin) Mann, Father Ted Dudzinski, Father Andrew Dudzinski, Father Brian Dudzinski and Margie (William) Crooks, according to the obituary.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette man and former ISP trooper killed in pedestrian accident
