FREMONT, IN (WTVB) – A fiery two-vehicle crash late Friday afternoon caused northbound I-69 in northern Steuben County and the nearby Indiana Toll Road entrance ramp to be closed for several hours.
According to preliminary findings from Indiana State Police Trooper George Youpel, a semi-tractor/trailer driven by 37-year-old Bakhodir Tursonov of Philadelphia pulled over at 5:30pm on northbound I-69 at the 355.9 mile marker under the Toll Road entrance overpass due to a medical emergency. Another semi-tractor/trailer, driven by 44-year-old Jovan Brookshire of Fort Wayne, failed to move over for the disabled semi and crashed into its rear, causing Tursonov’s trailer to catch fire. The Brookshire vehicle came to rest in the right-hand lane, with its driver injured and trapped.
Fremont Fire Department crews were brought in to extinguish the trailer fire and extricate Brookshire from his vehicle. He had serious, but non-life-threatening, leg and facial injuries and was transported by ambulance to a Fort Wayne hospital for treatment. Brookshire was cited for following too close and for failing to move over for a disabled vehicle showing flashing hazard lights.
The flames from the fully engulfed Tursonov semi-trailer spread up to the overpass, requiring troopers to shut down all eastbound traffic on the Toll Road entrance ramp temporarily. There was heavy smoke damage to the bridge structure, but an inspection conducted by INDOT engineering staff found it to be intact and safe for travel.
Northbound I-69 was completely shut down for approximately six hours during the investigation and cleanup.
The incident remains under investigation.
Troopers from the Fort Wayne and Toll Road Posts were also assisted by the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, Steuben County EMS, Steuben County EMA, INDOT, Toll Road Maintenance, IDEM, the Steuben County Health Department, and Bill’s Professional Towing Service.
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