JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. – A serious crash closed part of I-69 south in Johnson County Monday morning.
The Indiana Department of Transportation attributed the closure near mile marker 154 to “an injury crash.” INDOT said all lanes of I-69 south were initially closed, with traffic getting through on the right shoulder. Northbound lanes were also slow.
Around 8:50 a.m., INDOT indicated all lanes had reopened.
Image via Johnson County Sheriff’s Office
This happened on I-69 south near Smith Valley Road. Photos from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office showed crash debris littering the road. It appeared two vehicles sustained significant damage.
According to Sheriff Duane Burgess, the sheriff’s office received information about a disabled vehicle on I-69 south between State Road 144 and Smith Valley Road. Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Bargersville Police Department were dispatched to the scene.
While police were responding, a vehicle heading southbound struck the stranded vehicle, sending it to the left side of the road.
The driver of the stranded vehicle was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in serious condition, Burgess said. The driver of the striking vehicle was not transported to an area hospital.
“I-69 will be closed to southbound traffic for an undetermined amount of time as we gather evidence and work the accident,” Burgess said.
According to a police report provided by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the driver of a White Ford F-250 was traveling south on I-69. The driver reportedly said he was “feeling sleepy,” so he made a phone call to stay awake.
At one point, the driver said he was in the left lane of travel and struck the other vehicle, identified as a parked Black Dodge Dart, after the driver crossed the intersection of I-69 with Smith Valley Road.
The driver claimed the Dodge Dart was “sticking out into his lane of travel” and didn’t see it until it was too late.
Drivers were urged to avoid the area and find an alternative route. The sheriff’s office said drivers could use the access road off of Smith Valley to get to State Road 144 and return to I-69 south.