Snow and ice spawn several I-70 accidents

Wednesday, January 20, 2016
I-70 accident scene at 37-mile marker Wednesday morning. Photo courtesy Shea Goodpaster of WRTV6

PUTNAMVILLE -- A couple inches of snow Wednesday helped produce a number of snow- and ice-related motor vehicle crashes, the majority of which kept Indiana State Police troopers from the Putnamville Post extremely busy along Interstate 70 in Putnam, Clay and Vigo counties.

Between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday, ISP troopers responded to 14 property-damage mishaps, seven personal-injury accidents (mostly minor except for two), 18 slide-offs and six mechanically disabled vehicles in the Putnamville District.

At 8:26 a.m., troopers responded to a property-damage accident at the 37-mile marker of I-70 eastbound in Putnam County involving two pickups and one tractor-trailer.

The crash ruptured the fuel tanks on the tractor-trailer, causing a hazardous material cleanup. Eastbound lanes were initially closed for a few minutes, then one lane was opened while cleanup occurred. No injuries were reported.

All eastbound lanes were opened around 2:15 p.m. Cloverdale Fire/Rescue and Indiana Department of Emergency Management personnel assisted.

A few moments later on the other side of the interstate, a crash at the 37-mile marker westbound in Putnam County resulted in three injuries, entrapment and lane closures lasting nearly four hours. During that time, westbound traffic was rerouted over U.S. 231 north to U.S. 40.

The 8:30 a.m. accident unfolded as a westbound UPS tractor-trailer crashed into a Fed Ex semi rig, State Police reported.

The UPS rig, driven by 64-year-old James Powell, of St. Charles, Mo., lost control on the ice, traveled into median, veered back onto roadway and into the path of the Fed Ex semi, driven by Aleksandr Melnik, 50, of Rego Park, N.Y.

After impact, Melnik was entrapped in the wreckage for approximately one hour before being extricated by members of Cloverdale and Washington Township volunteer fire departments.

Semis collide in 8:30 a.m. accident at 37-mile marker of Interstate 70 in Putnam County.

Melnik, who reportedly sustained internal injuries, was airlifted by StatFlight air ambulance to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment.

Reportedly suffering minor injuries, Powell was transported to Putnam County Hospital by Putnam County Operation Life ambulance.

Another serious crash occurred Wednesday on eastbound I-70 near the five-mile marker in Vigo County at 10 a.m. The multi-vehicle crash entrapped 74-year-old F. William Bruck II of Beavercreek, Ohio, in his motor home for nearly one hour as members of Sugar Creek Fire/Rescue, with assistance from Peffley and Hinshaw Wrecker Service, completed the extrication.

Bruck was transported to Regional ER by Riley Fire/EMS for lower leg injuries. His wife reported no injuries.

Eastbound lanes were closed for nearly one hour for extrication.

Near the five-mile marker in Vigo County, troopers worked four crashes within 90-minute period.

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  • Why do these big-truck drivers think they don't ever have to slow down, no matter what the driving conditions are? They're a menace to public safety.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Wed, Jan 20, 2016, at 2:28 PM
  • who said it was the semi drivers fault? there was 2 other drivers.

    -- Posted by luvmycountry on Wed, Jan 20, 2016, at 3:16 PM
  • Ben Dover: If you would read the article before attempting to lay blame to the truck drivers, you would notice no where in this article does it say it was the truck drivers fault, nor does it say the truck driver was driving to fast. It simply says a 'semi was involved'. If I had to guess, I image you might be one of those types of driver's who like to cut off a truck driver just to get to the next exit; because you think your time is more valuable then theirs. Let me tell you something. This "menace" that you speak of hauls food to the grocery store that you purchase your food from. This "menace" also hauls gasoline to the gas station so you can fill up the little car that will most likely cut him off on the interstate. This "menace" will haul the junk you purchase at the local department store. This "menace" has a family that worries about them every time they leave home, they aren't seen sometimes for a week at a time. Trucks cannot stop on a dime like your car might be able to. How do you know what happened? Where you in one of vehicles involved? Get the facts before bash the truck drivers. Better yet, why don't you try driving a big truck.

    -- Posted by Truckdriverswife on Wed, Jan 20, 2016, at 4:10 PM
  • True, I don't know the particulars of these crashes. But I do know from experience driving on I-70 often that most big-truck drivers won't slow down due to slick roads. And nothing compares to a big truck taking 5 minutes to pass someone, then cutting over and going slower than before.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Thu, Jan 21, 2016, at 8:08 AM
  • I cannot believe that these professional drivers, some with a million miles (or more) of safe driving experience. Go out on our highways and try and have an accident, resulting of losing their job that also feed their family. I am speaking of the majority as you can always find a bad apple in every profession, but they get weeded out over time.

    Be nice to folks on the road and most of them will be nice to you. Try it sometime and you will be surprised.

    Bob

    -- Posted by canichols41 on Thu, Jan 21, 2016, at 5:50 PM
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