Merrillville, IN : Three people ininjured in three-vehicle crash on I-65 in northwest Indiana on Monday afternoon, February 2, 2015

An 80-year-old truck driver was airlifted Monday after a three-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 65 just north of the U.S. 30 exit, Indiana State Police said.

James R. Reed, of Hebron, suffered serious injuries after his semi hit an SUV that crossed into his lane about 2:30 p.m. as the two vehicles approached traffic stopped for an earlier crash, police said.

A 24-year-old Indianapolis woman was driving a 2014 Honda CRV south when she changed lanes in front of Reed, who was driving a 2014 Mack semi and dump trailer.

Reed hit the back of the CRV, causing it to spin out and hit a concrete barrier wall. The passenger side of the CRV became lodged under the front of Reed's semi, police said.

Reed's semi also hit a box trailer being pulled by a 36-year-old semi driver from Green Lake, Wis., police said.

Reed was taken from the interstate to the parking lot at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, where he was loaded into a helicopter and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., police said.

The Wisconsin semi driver and the CRV driver were taken to Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus in Merrillville with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

A small poodle in a dog car seat in the Indianapolis woman's SUV was not hurt in the crash and went with her to the hospital in an ambulance, police said.

Reed's trailer was empty, and the other semi did not lose its load of 32,000 pounds of cheese, police said.

All lanes were reopened about 5 p.m.

Source :
Hebron man airlifted after crash on I-65