At approximately 5:25 p.m. Thursday, troopers were dispatched to a two vehicle crash on I-65 northbound lanes at the overpass at exit 215. Trooper Nicholas Price was dispatched to the scene and upon his arrival he discovered 2 semi trucks with trailers in the median under the S.R. 114 overpass. One semi had substantial damage to the front of the tractor. The other semi had minimal damage to the passenger side of the truck.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Price revealed that a red 2015 Freightliner, owned and driven by Georgi Tachev, 59, of Northbrook, IL was northbound in the right lane of I-65 at the 215 mile marker. His trailer was filled with paper goods. A second semi, a black 2018 Kenworth, driven by James Masterson, 58, of Manteno, IL was also northbound on I-65 in the left lane. Masterson’s semi is owned by Altom Transport and was empty at the time of the crash.
For unknown reasons, the red Freightliner made a lane change to the left lane into the path of the black Kenworth. This action forced the Kenworth into the grass median of I-65 where the vehicle continued until Masterson was able to bring the truck to a stop under the S.R. 114 overpass. The red Freightliner then continued to drive to the left and into the median where it struck the facing of the cable barrier, continued to strike the yellow impact attenuator barrels in front of the bridge support and then the bridge support itself. The vehicle continued to travel north after striking the bridge and came to an uncontrolled rest just north of the overpass.
All north bound lanes were closed until approximately 2 a.m. for crash investigation and scene cleanup and vehicle removal.
The Jasper County Coroner was contacted and declared Tachev deceased. Family has been notified. An autopsy is pending by the Jasper County Coroner. Masterson refused medical treatment at the scene. Neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to be a factor in this crash.