DeKALB COUNTY, IN (WTVB) – Three persons were killed in a crash on I-69 about three miles north of Auburn, Indiana Wednesday afternoon which involved two semi-tractor trailers and five passenger vehicles.
Indiana State Police say the crash happened at about 3:15 p.m. near mile marker 332 as traffic had slowed or stopped due to construction delays on the interstate almost two miles to the north near U.S. 6.
According a State Police news release, a preliminary crash investigation indicated that a semi-tractor/trailer driven by 70-year-old James Crager of Angola, Indiana was approaching the slowed traffic at a high rate of speed. Troopers say he “failed to slow or take evasive action to avoid the congested traffic which led to a catastrophic chain of events.”
The crash required the northbound lanes of I-69 to be shut down for over five hours. This created a lengthy traffic back up for several miles.
Southbound lanes of travel were also shut down or slowed for several hours as officers had to redirect and alleviate northbound traffic stuck on the interstate.
The crash remains under investigation. A full report will be turned over to the DeKalb County Prosecutors Office for review and determination of any criminal charges that may result.
The names of the fatal victims have not been released pending the notification of relatives.
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