Six hurt in I-70 rollover accident

Six people were injured Tuesday afternoon as a result of mechanical problems involving a 2004 Ford F-150 towing a 1986 Chevrolet pickup on Interstate 70. The mechanical failure reportedly caused the driver of the F-150 to lose control and veer into the median. (Courtesy of Mike Clark)

CLOVERDALE -- Mechanical failure reportedly caused an accident on Interstate 70 near Cloverdale Tuesday afternoon that resulted in injuries to six persons.

At about 3:10 p.m., Indiana State Police and Putnam County emergency agencies responded to a rollover crash near the 41-mile marker (or the Cloverdale exit) of I-70.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Ford F-150 was eastbound on I-70, towing a 1986 Chevrolet pickup. Suddenly, the right front wheel of the Chevrolet broke free and separated from the tow vehicle, causing the driver of the F-150 to lose control of the vehicle and veer into the median.

The Ford F-150 with six passengers then rolled over three times, ejecting one passenger into the westbound lanes of I-70. The truck wreckage also came to rest in the westbound lanes.

The driver was 34-year-old Candelario Ojeda Jr., who was transported to Putnam County Hospital (PCH) with head lacerations.

The front middle seat passenger, Marisela Reyes, 35, was ejected. She was transported by air to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis with multiple injuries.

The right front passenger was Alicia Regis, 67, who was taken to PCH for fractures and internal injuries. She was expected to be airlifted to Eskenazi Hospital for further treatment, authorities said.

Three youngsters age six and under were in the back seat, all in child-restraint devices.

The driver's side rear passenger was two-year-old Dominic A. Ojeda. He was taken to PCH and later airlifted to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of head injuries.

The middle rear seat passenger was Arianna M. Ojeda, 6, who was taken to Putnam County Hospital for treatment of back pain.

The other rear-seat passenger was Christopher O. Ojeda, 6, who was taken to PCH with lacerations.

Although there was somewhat of a language barrier, investigators believe Candelario Ojeda Jr. and Marisela Reyes are the children's parents.

Westbound I-70 traffic was diverted northbound on U.S. 231 at Cloverdale to westbound U.S. 40 for approximately 90 minutes.

The crash was investigated by ISP Master Trooper Ritch Reynolds. Assisting were numerous ISP Troopers from the Putnamville Post, as well as officials from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Cloverdale Police Department, Putnam County Operation Life, Greencastle Fire Department, IU Health Air Ambulance and Trans Care EMS.