This morning, shortly after 4:30 am, the Indiana State Police responded to a personal injury crash on I-65 Southbound near the 43 mile marker. As a result of the crash, a hazardous material spilled which led to the southbound lanes of I-65 being closed.
The crash, which involved three semi-tractor trailers, began when a tractor trailer rear ended two other tractor trailers who were stopped due to a previous crash. The collision caused one of the trailers to leak a hazardous chemical being hauled. A passenger in one of the vehicles suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
Both lanes of Southbound I-65 were closed from the time of the crash until 10:30 am, when the left lane was opened. The right lane remains closed at this time while the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and private environmental cleanup company work to contain the chemical spill and offload the contents of the leaking trailer.
During the road closure, traffic was diverted off of I-65 at US 50, to US 31 South, to State Road 250, and then back on I-65 South at the 41 mile marker. The northbound lanes of I-65 were not affected. The chemical spill is not believed to be a threat to area residents or other passing motorists.
Both lanes of Southbound I-65 near the 43 mile marker are expected to be fully opened this afternoon.
More information, including the names of the drivers and injured, will be sent out later today.
The investigation is ongoing.
