Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Two semi trucks crash closes I-65 south of Lowell Wednesday

Back To Front Page

 

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.

 

 

Posted 1/12/2017

 
 
 
 

 

 

Search This Site:

Custom Search