Semi rear ends van, two children dead

TERRE HAUTE — A three-vehicle accident in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 Tuesday afternoon claimed the lives of two young children and injured four others.

The accident occurred about 2:45 p.m. near the 16-mile marker in Vigo County, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.

A westbound tractor-trailer from Grewal Transport of Canada, driven by 62-year-old Amritpal Singh of Quebec, was westbound in the driving lane and reportedly failed to stop or avoid traffic that was slowing or stopped for the approach to a construction zone, State Police said.

The Grewal Transport semi then struck the rear of a Honda Odyssey van, driven by a 33-year-old Ohio mother of three, before impacting the rear of a tractor-trailer from URSA Logistics, driven by Russell D. Sims, 57, of Indianapolis.

Two children, a five-year-old male and a one-year-old female, succumbed to their injuries.

The mother was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis with traumatic injuries. Her other child, a three-year-old male, was airlifted to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis with what is believed to be life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

With the family being from Ohio, relatives have been notified and were reportedly en route to Indianapolis Tuesday evening. Names will be released at a later time.

Westbound lanes were still closed at 8:30 p.m. with opening of at least one lane expected later in the evening. Traffic was being detoured over U.S. 40 and State Road 42.

The crash is being investigated by ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Master Trooper Matt Ames.

Assisting were ISP crash reconstructionists from the Bloomington Post, multiple troopers from the Putnamville Post, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Riley Fire/Rescue, Honey Creek Fire/Rescue, Jackson Township Fire/Rescue, Posey Township Fire/Rescue, Clay County Coroner’s Office, Air Evac and Lifeline helicopters, CARE EMS, Trans Care EMS, and Indiana Department of Transportation.