The Deaver Road overpass is expected to close on or after Thursday, Feb. 18, as crews begin demolition work over I-65 south of Columbus.

The bridge will remain closed through mid-June (120 days) for superstructure replacement as part of the latest added travel lanes project on I-65.

The official detour for the closure will follow C.R. 175 W. to C.R. 450 S./S.R. 58 to C.R. 300 W. In addition, overnight lane closures are scheduled Tuesday, Feb. 16, on I-65 at the overpass from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for placement of concrete barrier wall.

Starting the following week, intermittent closures will take place on I-65 during demolition operations. These will also take place overnight between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., weather permitting.

During this period one direction of I-65 will close for up to 20 minutes at a time while overhead work is in progress (up to seven days).

Motorists are encouraged to utilize alternate routes or allow extra time to reach their destinations. A 55 mph speed limit will be in place throughout the entire work zone for the duration of the project.

Previously scheduled shoulder restrictions at Denois Creek and Opossum Creek have been moved to later in the project.

The superstructure replacement on Deaver Road marks the start of work on a $65 million contract that includes the addition of a third travel lane on I-65 between S.R. 58 and S.R. 46, bridge widening and rehabilitation, structure replacement, and asphalt resurfacing from the Driftwood River Bridge to U.S. 31 at Taylorsville. Additional lane closures and restrictions are possible starting as early as mid-March. The contract was awarded to Force Construction in October and is expected to be complete in summer 2023.

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

Today, February 14, 2021, a Georgia truck driver was arrested on numerous charges after leaving the scene of a crash on I-65 in Jackson County, Indiana.

At approximately 10:30 am, Trooper Tia Hunt responded to a semi tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of I-65 Northbound near the 53-mile marker, just north of Seymour, Indiana.  When Trp.

Hunt arrived on the scene, the driver, Kendarius C. Poole, age 29, Riverdale, Georgia, indicated to Trp. Hunt that he just had flat tires that needed to be repaired and had not been involved in a crash. 

Trp. Hunt observed the vehicle had fresh damage from a recent crash. 

Trp. Korry Clark located fresh damage to a guardrail approximately two miles south that matched the damage to Poole’s truck and trailer.

During further investigation, Trp. Hunt obtained information that Poole was possibly in possession of marijuana. 

Trooper Randel Miller ad K-9 Jinx responded to assist.  Jinx alerted to the odor of illegal drugs coming from the vehicle. 

During a search of the truck, suspected marijuana and synthetic urine were located.

A search warrant was obtained to draw Poole’s blood for evidence of Poole operating the vehicle while intoxicated. 

After the search warrant was served, Poole was arrested on charges of Leaving the Scene of a Crash, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Synthetic Urine, Operating While Intoxicated, and Operating While Intoxicated-Endangerment.

Kendarius Poole was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he was incarcerated pending his initial court appearance in the Jackson County Superior Court.

Trooper Hunt was assisted by Troopers Korry Clark, David Owsley, Seth Davidson, Randel Miller, and K-9 Jinx.    

A Corydon man was arrested on multiple charges Saturday evening after leading officers on a short pursuit and crashing into a beanfield south of Corydon.  

Around 7:50 pm Saturday, Trooper Jeremy Simcoe attempted to stop a black 1999 Infiniti Q45 passenger car for speeding near Capital Avenue and Walnut Street in Corydon.

The vehicle initially started to pull into a parking area but then quickly sped off in the direction of the Harrison County Fairgrounds.

The car continued south on Old Highway 135 at speeds over 90 miles per hour, running multiple four-way stop intersections occupied by other motorists.

The vehicle later turned west onto Fairview Church Road. The pursuit continued on Fairview Church Road for several miles before the car drove off the roadway and into a beanfield, crashing and coming to rest in a heavy thicket.

The driver, identified as Gregory Steiner, 25, of Corydon, Indiana, was taken into custody after exiting the vehicle. During a search of the crash scene and vehicle, officers located approximately 4.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine in separate packaging, some of which was found in a plastic vile hidden inside a flashlight handle.  

Gregory Steiner was cleared by medical personnel before being remanded into the custody of the Harrison County Jail. Steiner is charged with the following: 

1.  Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony 
2. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 5 Felony 
3. Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle – Level 6 Felony 
4. Criminal Recklessness with a Vehicle – Level 6 Felony
5. Reckless Driving – A Misdemeanor
6. Resisting Law Enforcement – A Misdemeanor

Trooper Simcoe was assisted by Trooper Nathaniel Newton and Officers from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.  

A Richmond man is in jail after being arrested on drug charges, including possession of Cocaine and Meth.

Thursday at approximately 02:39 AM, Trooper Jacob Ridgway was patrolling on Fort Wayne Avenue in Richmond, IN.

He observed a silver Chevrolet Impala drive left of center on two separate occasions.

The driver also failed to signal as it turned onto 6^th St. At one point, the vehicle was traveling 12 mph which added to Trooper Ridgway’s suspicion.

Trooper Ridgway initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the driver of the vehicle.

He identified himself as Matthew Addison Trever Bowen, age 30, of Richmond, Indiana.

During the interaction, Trooper Ridgway, who is a certified DRE (Drug Recognition Expert), noticed clues of intoxication. Richmond Police Officer Cooper and K9 Officer Foster arrived to assist with the traffic stop.

Bowen was found to be in possession of a pair of brass knuckles and a large knife. Also, during the search, a small sandwich bag was located in Bowen’s jacket.

The bag contained an off-white residue and powder suspected of being cocaine.

Officer Foster and his K9 partner Bo conducted an open-air sniff around the suspect vehicle. K9 Bo indicated to the presence of the odor of narcotics.

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed marijuana, a THC Vape cartridge,  and several pieces of drug paraphernalia.

Bowen was taken into custody and was transported to the Wayne County Jail. He was charged with the following:

• Possession of Cocaine, Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor
• Operating While Intoxicated – Endangering, Class A Misdemeanor
• Operating While Intoxicated – Controlled Substance, Class C Misdemeanor

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.