N.Y. man identified as driver found dead in truck

DIXON – A New York man has been identified as the driver found dead Thursday morning behind the wheel of his semitrailer in a cornfield south of Steward.

The Lee County coroner’s office on Friday said Victor P. Hagen, 61, of Rochester, N.Y., was pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary investigation suggests Hagen may have had a heart attack while driving, Lee County Sheriff John Varga has said.

Toxicology reports are pending to make a final determination of the cause of death, said a woman who answered the phone at the coroner’s office.

According to deputies, Hagen was driving his semi south on Interstate 39 south of Steward when he drove into the ditch about a half-mile south of McGirr Road, traveled 271 feet along the ditch then 578 feet through the field.

There was minor damage to the semi, which hit trees, a fence, and unharvested corn, according to deputies.

It does not appear that Hagen braked or made any other maneuvers before or after leaving the roadway, according to deputies. He was wearing a seat belt and had a small cut on his head, perhaps from hitting the steering wheel or dashboard, Varga said.

Deputies say Hagen was hauling canned beets and was en route to Kentucky when he crashed.