CLARK CO. – An Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction team is investigating a fatal crash on the I-65 southbound off-ramp to Memphis Blue Lick Road in Clark County.
Just before 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, a 911 caller reported that a semi-truck had rear-ended another semi-truck on the off-ramp from I-65 southbound onto Memphis Blue Lick Road in Memphis, Indiana.
When officers and first responders arrived on the scene, they found the driver of a black 2017 Volvo semi-truck entrapped in his cab. The driver had a head injury and was later flown to the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville. A female passenger in the sleeper of the same truck was entrapped and was also unresponsive. Once recovered from the wreckage, the passenger was pronounced deceased.
After the initial investigation, officers believe three semi-trucks with trailers were parked on the right emergency lane of the off-ramp.
A fourth semi-truck, the black 2017 Volvo, was southbound on I-65 and exiting onto the same ramp. For an unknown reason, the Volvo traveled off the right side of the exit lane and clipped the front end of the first parked semi.
The Volvo then continued off the right side of the off-ramp and collided with the rear of a second parked truck and trailer. As the black Volvo continued forward, it lifted and traveled underneath the trailer of the second truck until it collided with the rear of the second tractor and came to rest.
The collision also pushed the second tractor into the rear of a third parked truck and trailer. The driver of the second tractor sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He was transported to University Hospital by ground ambulance.
The off-ramp remained closed to traffic until approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday.
No names have been released as officers continue the investigation and seek to make family notifications.
The crash reconstruction team consisted of Trooper Tate Rohlfing and Trooper Benjamin Davis from the Sellersburg Post as well as Trooper Matthew Holly from ISP Versailles.
The Tri-Township Fire Department and Furnish Towing assisted in the crash.
