A two-semi crash on
I-65 forced the closure of all southbound lanes south of the Lowell exit on
Wednesday afternoon, the Indiana State Police said.
According to
police, at 4:40 p.m. trucker Luis Ortez, 57, of Mississippi, was southbound
in the left lane of I-65, five miles south of the Lowell exit, when for
unknown reasons Ortez braked, swerved right, and struck a semi-tractor
trailer parked on the outer shoulder of the roadway.
The second semi was
being operated by David Hill, 37, of Comer, Ga., police said. Hill had
parked on the shoulder to use his cell phone.
After hitting
Hill’s trailer, Ortez’s rig jackknifed, blocking all southbound lanes,
police said.
Ortez was
transported to Riverside Memorial Hospital in Illinois with serious
injuries, police said, while Hill was transported to Methodist Hospital
Southlake Campus in Merrillville with non-life threatening injuries.
All southbound
lanes were closed and traffic diverted off at the Lowell exit, for removal
of the injured and cleanup. Approximately 90 gallons of diesel fuel was also
spilled, police noted. All lanes were reopened at 7:50 p.m.
Ortez was driving
for Salco Transport of Deerfield, Ill., police said; Hill, for Hilldrup
Moving & Storage of Stafford, Va.