Interstate 65 is the largest and most important roadway in the state, connecting Indianapolis to Chicago to the northwest and Louisville in the southeast. The 257-mile stretch is in the news regularly as the site of truck and car crashes.
One notable recent example involved two semi-trucks in a fiery crash near Whitestown around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 2. One truck rear-ended the other in a construction zone. The impact sparked a fire that caused the driver’s death in the rear truck, who may not have been paying attention. There were also three passenger vehicles involved in secondary accidents caused by the truck crash. The highway was shut down from mile marker 130 to 133 for hours, and the southbound lane remained closed the following morning.
Distracted trucker likely the cause
Law enforcement believes that the deceased driver was not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, leaving distracted driving to be the likely cause. Tragically, the driver in the rear vehicle may have paid for reckless driving with his life.
It is an unfortunate fact of life these days that distracted driving is an epidemic on the roads. While truck drivers are trained before getting their special license and many exercise caution when behind the wheel, there are repeated examples of truckers causing accidents because they were texting, checking a phone or otherwise distracted. While it is hard for law enforcement to see inside the truck, there are also repeated instances of truckers cited for distracted driving. These stops may have prevented a subsequent death or wreck.
Crashes can be fatal
Those involved in a motor vehicle accident on I-65 or one of the other roads here in Indiana might need to contact a personal injury attorney if there was reckless driving. The injuries are often severe and can be fatal, leading to a loss of income, medical expenses not covered by insurance, property damage, and pain and suffering. These legal professionals can oversee the case, leaving those involved to focus on their recovery.
