HENDRICKS COUNTY, Ind.– A fatal crash involving 7 vehicles on I-70 going eastbound has left lanes blocked in both directions on the interstate, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
The crash occurred at approximately 12:05 p.m. in Hendricks County just south of Plainfield and north of Mooresville between Indiana State Road 39 and Center Street. The crash involved three semi-trucks and four passenger cars.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene to find multiple vehicles that had been damaged in the collision, including a car that was engulfed in flames and upside down. The driver was entrapped in the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene.
Indiana State Police confirmed that the Hendricks County Coroner was on the scene to identify the deceased individual. The deceased was later identified as Diane Sue Jucha, 68, of Martinsville.
Two other people were brought to an area hospital for medical treatment following the fatal accident. They had sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover.
The multi-vehicle crash closed the eastbound lanes for nearly six hours as authorities arrived to investigate the wreckage. The Plainfield Police Department, Plainfield Fire Department, Hendricks County Coroner and Hendricks County Sherriff’s Office deputies assisted Indiana State Police on the scene.
A preliminary investigation into the circumstances leading up to the accident has revealed that traffic was already backed up due to a separate accident that occurred to the west of the crash scene.
The driver of a semi-tractor trailer failed to push the brakes in time, according to ISP. This led to the semi colliding with several vehicles, forcing two vehicles to roll over and several others to be damaged in the wreckage.
The crash remains under investigation. ISP said that alcohol and drugs are not believed to have played a role in the fatal crash. One eastbound lane is currently open as crash investigators are still on the scene.