Pair of Afternoon Crashes Close I-65

One accident may have been intentional

Wednesday afternoon, the Indiana State Police responded to two crashes on I-65 between Seymour and Columbus which caused one injury and closed portions of I-65 for three hours.

The first crash, investigated by Trooper Andrew Garrett, occurred shortly before 1:00 pm when a vehicle overturned on I-65 Southbound near the 60 mile marker in Bartholomew County.  The vehicle came to rest in the middle of the southbound lanes of I-65 causing all southbound lanes to be closed for approximately one hour for crash cleanup.  The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

The second crash, investigated by Trooper David Owsley, occurred just after 1:00 pm on I-65 Northbound near the 55 mile marker in Jackson County.  In that crash, a Holiday Rambler RV pulling a trailer was traveling northbound on I-65 near the 55 mile marker when the RV collided with a concrete barrier in the median of the construction zone.  The RV then caught fire and burned in the median of I-65.  The driver of the RV, Clarence Hampton, age 37, Orlando, Florida, was transported by EMS to Schneck Medical Center before being flown to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis with serious injuries.  Two passengers in the RV escaped without injury.

Further information gathered in the investigation indicated that the RV may have been intentionally crashed into the concrete barrier.  The northbound lanes of I-65 in Jackson County were closed near exit 55 for nearly three hours for crash investigation and cleanup.  Traffic was diverted onto US 31 and State Road 11 during the interstate closure.

Both crashes remain under investigation.