LAFAYETTE, IN : 2 die in I-65 crashes at Lafayette on Tuesday, December, 5th 2017

Two people died in a five-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 65 on Tuesday afternoon, Indiana State Police said.

The crash occurred about 3:20 p.m. in the in the left lane of the split traffic pattern near the State Road 26-172 exit.

The initial police investigation found a white 2007 Freightliner pulling an intermodal container and driven by Ashraf M. Al-Rabba, 36, of Michigan, was stopped for a crash south of his location. A red 1998 International pulling a flatbed and driven by Karl E. Klinge, 54, of Sherman, Illinois, was stopped behind the Freightliner. A red passenger car was stopped behind the Freightliner. A white 2017 Chevrolet box truck driven by Joseph Gais, 62, Florissant, Missouri, was coming up on the stopped vehicles and was slowing down. A white 2017 Freightliner pulling a car hauler and driven by Anthony J. Dick, 31, of Plainfield, Indiana, apparently was distracted and did not see the traffic had come to a stop.

State police said in a news release on Tuesday night, “It is unknown at this time if the white box truck hit the red car first or if the 2017 Freightliner ran into the back of the box truck and then pushed it into the red car. That impact pushed the red car underneath the flatbed killing both occupants of the red car.

“The white box truck was spun around and was pinned between the flatbed trailer and the 2017 Freightliner who came to rest partially through the guardrail. The impact pushed the Red International into the intermodal trailer.”

The names of the two people who died in the crash were being withheld pending notification of their families.

Gais was transported to IU Health Arnett Hospital with a complaint of pain. Dick was transported to the same hospital reference complaint of pain.

Al-Rabba and Klinge were not injured.

A blood test on all drivers was administered as required by state law.

All lanes of the interstate were expected to be reopened sometime after 9:30 p.m.

Source :
2 die in I-65 crashes at Lafayette