JASPER COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) – A fatal fiery crash Monday night shut down part of Interstate 65 in northwest Indiana, state police said Tuesday.
State troopers responded about 10 p.m. Monday to a multi-vehicle crash on southbound I-65 at mile marker 218, 2 miles south of the Fair Oaks exit and 3 miles north of Rensselaer in Jasper County, police said.
There was construction taking place in the area.
A bobtail tractor was stopped in traffic in the right lane, when a semi approached from behind at a high rate of speed, police said.
To avoid hitting the other vehicle, the semi swerved into the median, hitting a barrier, police said.
Another semi following closely behind at a high rate of speed did not stop in time, and hit the first stopped vehicle, police said.
Both vehicles caught fire. The semi driver was trapped, and died, police said.
The driver of the stopped vehicle managed to escape.
All lanes of I-65 were blocked in the area, and the interstate needed to be shut down for an investigation and cleanup.
The roadway was damaged during the fire, and needed to be replaced before reopening, police said.
The road reopened Tuesday night, Indiana State Police said on social media about 6:20 p.m.