On January 20, 2026, at approximately 3:45 p.m., Indiana State Police responded to a three vehicle fatal crash involving commercial motor vehicles on Interstate 65 southbound near the 176 mile marker.
A preliminary investigation by the Indiana State Police determined that a 2023 Freightliner semi truck and trailer was traveling southbound on Interstate 65. At the same time, a 2022 Peterbilt semi truck and trailer and a 2025 Freightliner semi truck and trailer were slowed/stopped in traffic due to a separate crash. For reasons that remain under investigation, the 2023 Freightliner failed to slow for the backed up traffic and struck the two semi trucks.
The driver of the 2023 Freightliner was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office. The driver’s name will be released at a later date after positive identification has been completed and proper notification to the next of kin has been made.
The drivers of the 2022 Peterbilt and the 2025 Freightliner were not injured as a result of the crash.
Indiana State Police were assisted at the scene by the Battle Ground Fire Department, Lafayette Fire Department, Tippecanoe County Emergency Medical Services, the Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office, and the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. All information is preliminary and subject to change. There is no further information available for release at this time.