Snow and ice spawn several I-70 accidents
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.
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.