AUSTIN – On Saturday, February 27, 2021, Indiana State Police investigated a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on I-65 near Austin, that resulted in the death of a 47-year-old Tennessee man.
Police arrested 24-year-old Cooper Hensley of Paris Crossing, on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
At approximately 11:55 p.m. Saturday, troopers with the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg Post, along with officers and other first responders from numerous other agencies responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-65 northbound near the 33-mile marker, just south of Austin, in Scott County.
According to the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg Crash Reconstruction Team a black 2013 Dodge Avenger driven by Hensley, was traveling northbound in the left lane of I-65. Investigators say Hensley was exceeding the speed limit when he collided with a 2006 Ford F-250, being driven by 47-year-old Scotty R. Hoosier, of Altamont, Tennessee. Hoosier was also traveling northbound on I-65.
The force of the collision caused Hoosier’s vehicle to leave the east side of the roadway where it collided with a tree. Hensley’s car entered the median of I-65 where it struck the median cable barrier and overturned.
As a result of the crash, Hoosier sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Scott County Coroner’s Office.
Two passengers in Hoosier’s vehicle were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Hensley was uninjured in the crash.
During the investigation, officers located drug paraphernalia in Hensley’s possession and determined he was intoxicated. Troopers obtained a search warrant for a blood sample for toxicology testing. Those results are pending.
Hensley was then transported to the Scott County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing.
I-65 Northbound was closed approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Scottsburg Police Department, Austin Police Department, Scottsburg Fire Department, Jennings Township Fire Department, Scott County EMS, Scott County Coroner’s Office, and Coomer’s Towing.
