Brazil man dies in I-70 crash

Friday, March 15, 2013

BRAZIL -- A 53-year-old Brazil man died in a crash on Interstate 70 Thursday night when his semi tractor collided with a large tree that had fallen in the roadway.

At 8:30 p.m., emergency agencies responded to a multi-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes near the 24-mile marker.

Four tractor-trailers and one passenger car were westbound in the driving lane and came upon a large tree that had fallen into the roadway.

The tree was approximately 60 to 70 feet in length and three to four feet in diameter.

The first tractor-trailer could not slow in time and struck the tree, then traveled off the west edge of the roadway into a watery ditch. The driver, Robert J. Reedy II, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The remaining three tractor-trailers and passenger car sustained moderate to heavy damage, but the drivers were not injured.

Reedy's truck was loaded with canned grocery items and owned by Dart Express Trucking of Minnesota.

I-70 westbound was closed for nearly four hours for tree removal and crash clean-up. The westbound passing lane was opened at 1:45 a.m. Friday to alleviate the previous back-up. All lanes were reopened before daybreak.

The crash was investigated by Indiana State Police troopers Michael Featherling and Don Curtis. Assisting were ISP Sergeants Jared Nicoson and Joe Watts; Indiana Conservation Officers; Clay County Sheriff's Office; Clay County Coroner Joel Reinoehl; Clay County Search and Rescue; Jackson Township Fire and Rescue; Posey Township Fire and Rescue and Trans Care Ambulance Service.

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  • This is so sad. I'm so glad the rest of the vehicles could at least get stopped without bodily injuries. GOD bless them all.

    -- Posted by waepc on Fri, Mar 15, 2013, at 11:00 AM
  • How can it be that a 60-70 foot tall tree would be so close to the interstate highway as to block the highway if it falls?

    -- Posted by Lookout on Fri, Mar 15, 2013, at 12:13 PM
  • I came through there about 20 minutes before this happened - must have had an angel in the passenger seat!

    -- Posted by Vester on Fri, Mar 15, 2013, at 3:08 PM
  • There are hundreds of thousands of trees 60' and taller that are close to the highway!

    This was a horrible, horrible accident. From now on, I'll be making sure I can see down the roadway along this stretch. :*(

    I'm so sorry for this man's family.

    -- Posted by Emmes on Tue, Mar 19, 2013, at 11:57 AM
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