Tuesday afternoon, at approximately 4:00 pm, the Indiana State Police was called to a five vehicle personal injury crash on I-65 Southbound near the 48 mile marker in Jackson County, Indiana.
One driver was flown to a Louisville hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.
The initial investigation by Trooper Matt Holley indicated that traffic on I-65 Southbound was backed up due to an earlier vehicle fire on I-65 Southbound near the 41 mile marker. Despite troopers sitting at the rear of the traffic backup with emergency lights displayed, a 1998 Kenworth tractor-trailer being driven by Ch
arles W. Burton, age 28, Tell City, Indiana did not slow for the stopped traffic.
Burton’s vehicle struck the rear of a 2015 Ford van being driven by Michael E. Kleitz, age 38, New Albany, Indiana. The collision forced Kleitz’ vehicle off the roadway where it overturned. Burton’s vehicle continued southbound where it struck the rear of a 2012 Kenworth tractor-trailer being driven by Darrel R. Ashby, age 66, Lebanon, Virginia. The force of the collision forced Ashby’s vehicle into the rear of a 2017 Mack tractor-trailer being driven by Victor Jones, age 54, Clarksville, Tennessee. Jones’ vehicle was then pushed into a 2015 Freightliner tractor-trailer being driven by Larry S. Grover, age 50, Harrison, Michigan.
Burton was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated from his vehicle by the Seymour Fire Department. He was then flown to the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky for treatment of serious injuries. All other drivers involved in the crash were treated and released at the scene.
Southbound lanes of I-65 were shut down for nearly three hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
The investigation is ongoing.
Trp. Holley was assisted by numerous other troopers with the Indiana State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Seymour Police Department, Seymour Fire Department, Jackson County EMS, PHI Medical Helicopter, and 31 Wrecker Service.
