BLOOMFIELD – A Saturday morning crash on I-69 southbound near the 93-mile marker in Greene County has resulted in the deaths of a Columbia City couple.
The driver, Timothy W. Graham, 77, and his passenger, Carol A. Graham, 74, both of Columbia City, died at the crash scene after their truck struck an unoccupied semi-tractor-trailer that construction workers used to apply epoxy. A construction worker, identified as Calif Abdullah Kelsaw Jr., 29, of Fort Wayne, who had been struck, was transported via medical helicopter to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis for further treatment.
Preliminary crash investigation indicated that the truck pulling a trailer, driven by Graham, was traveling southbound on I-69 when it struck the rear of the semi-tractor-trailer, which then burst into flames. Greene County Fire EMS responded to the scene. The resulting crash near the interstate’s 93-mile marker closed northbound and southbound lanes for several hours.
An Indiana State Police crash reconstructionist was contacted and initiated an initial investigation upon arrival.
The crash also resulted in epoxy spillage, so representatives from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management were contacted to evaluate and assist with material removal. An inspector was also contacted to examine and ascertain any damage levels to the bridge where the crash happened.
Following the initial on-scene investigation, the northbound and southbound lanes of I-69 were opened around 7:14 p.m.
The crash remains under investigation.
Agencies responding and assisting with the crash investigation included, but were not limited to, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, fire and Greene County EMS, and the Greene County Coroner’s Office.
