Police said it appears a tractor-trailer driver tried to brake this afternoon before his rig hit another that was slowing for a red light in Pierceton.

Roger A. Schmale, 65, of Norfolk, Neb., died from extensive head and internal injuries after his truck rear-ended a truck being driven by William C. Mendez, according to a statement from the Kosciusko County Fatal Accident Crash Team.

Mendez, 40, of Chicago, told police he was going west on U.S. 30 and started to slow down for a red light at Indiana 13 before the crash.

Police said it appeared that Schmale was likely going the posted speed limit of 45 mph and that he tried to brake at the last moment.

Mendez was not injured in the crash, and U.S. 30 traffic was diverted for about two hours until crews could remove the wreckage, the police statement said.

The FACT team said the crash remains under investigation.