An Indiana State Police trooper and two semis were involved in a crash that closed I-70 westbound in Hendricks County for nearly two hours, FOX59 reported. The accident happened near mile marker 66, between Ronald Reagan Parkway and Center Street near Plainfield.
Emerging details of the collision, as stated by FOX59, outlined that the initial blockage has been cleared, and the trooper involved was unharmed. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, with no further information disclosed at the time of the initial report.
Sergeant John Perrine told WIBC that the trooper’s vehicle was struck by two semi-trucks while assisting a stranded family during Winter Storm Fern. The trooper had positioned his car to protect the family’s vehicle, and Perrine criticized motorists for unsafe driving in the hazardous conditions.
"I think we have a combination of a lot of selfish drivers out there that are only driving for themselves and not for the safety of everyone else," Perrine said. "Their disregard for safety is making it extremely dangerous, not just for our first responders and our troopers, but for everybody who has to be out today." Perrine explained that one semi’s unsafe speed in a "whiteout" caused the trooper’s cruiser to be sideswiped and, seconds later, rear-ended by another semi. According to WIBC, despite the collisions, the trooper and the family were unharmed. State Police are investigating whether the semi drivers followed federal guidelines given the storm.
Kiwi News Network confirmed the trooper was unharmed in the incident, which occurred west of State Road 267 around noon. I-70 westbound was partially reopened after the crash, though delays remained.
