Six Vehicle Crash on Interstate 65 Claims One Life

At approximately 9:15 a.m. Thursday on I-65 southbound near the 159 mile marker (that is approximately one mile north of the SR 28/158 exit) four semis, a passenger car and a van collide sending three to the hospital and one driver is deceased.

Preliminary investigation by Troopers out of the ISP Post at Lafayette have revealed that traffic was stopped for an earlier crash south when a white 2016 Volvo pulling a white refrigerated box trailer driven by Toddrick Fairley, 23 of Lucedale, MS was in the right lane and failed to see that traffic had slowed because he allegedly was looking for a bottle on the floor of his truck. He rear ended a maroon 2014 Subaru Legacy driven by Timothy Fagley, 54 of Michigan City, IN and projected them into the right ditch.

The Volvo then continued on and rear ended a black 2012 Kenworth driven by Karana Wallace, 38 of Greensburg, IN which was pulling a loaded tanker. The impact pushed the Kenworth into the rear of a white 2016 Ford Transit driven by Ira Brockman, 81 of Taylor Mill, KY. The Transit was pancaked between a second tanker being pulled by a 2009 red Volvo driven by Lucica Cimpean, 45 of Downers Grove, IL. Neither tanker had any spillage.

A six vehicle, a red 2003 Peterbuilt driven by Jesus Alamo, 36 of Franklin Park, IL and pulling an empty flatbed trailer was alongside the crash, received very minor damage.

The Volvo, Subaru, Kenworth and its tanker and the Ford Transit were all a total loss. Brockman was pronounced deceased at the scene. Family has been notified. Fagley was flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis by helicopter with serious injuries. His wife Kim refused treatment at the scene. Fairley was treated at IU Arnett Hospital in Lafayette and was released. Wallace was also transported to IU Arnett for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Cimpean and Alamo refused treatment at the scene.

The investigation is continuing. All appeared to have been wearing seatbelts. The interstate is still closed for re-construction and cleanup of the crash. The completed report will be turned over to the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office for possible charges.

The road was reopened more than nine hours after the crash.