Ball State graduate Jennifer Hawkins, 22, of Indianapolis, was killed Saturday in a car accident in Belt, Mont. Authorities say strong winds stirred up dust from plowed farm fields in the area, causing poor visibility along U.S. 87-89. A westbound semi had slowed and was struck from behind by the KRTV news car carrying Hawkins and photographer David Gerdrum. A second semi then struck the rear of their car.
In the chain reaction that followed, nine other vehicles, including two pickup trucks pulling horse trailers, crashed into each other, said Bob Rosipal, Cascade County deputy sheriff and coroner.
''It was tremendous. The scene was just a mess.'' Rosipal said.
The driver of the semi that hit the KRTV vehicle was hospitalized with back and neck injuries.
During Hawkins' last semester at Ball State, she interned with WISH-TV in Indianapolis. According to her biography on the KRTV Web site, Hawkins was a member of the Asian American Journalists Association as well as the Radio Television News Directors Association.
Hawkins covered the education, general story and Malmstrom Airforce Base beats for the CBS affliate. She joined the station in September 2001.
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