Chaos ensued on Indianapolis' roads Wednesday morning, as an overturned semi truck led to the closure of all northbound lanes on I-465. The incident, which occurred between Rockville Road and Washington Street, was first reported by the Indiana Department of Transportation shortly after 10 a.m., according to FOX59.
The Indiana State Police confirmed that the accident involved the semi and at least one other vehicle, a red Chevrolet SUV. While only minor injuries were reported by state police, an "extended cleanup" was anticipated. Sergeant John Perrine, a public information officer for the ISP, remarked, "The pavement may look 'just wet,' but trust me, it’s ice," signaling treacherous conditions on the interstate. This warning was echoed in a social media post by Sgt. Perrine, as reported by WRTV.
Traffic was diverted to use the left shoulder, and multiple lane closures persisted into the afternoon. By 12:30 p.m., the situation was somewhat improved, with two right lanes remaining closed between Washington Street and U.S. 36. Despite this partial reopening, the Indiana Department of Transportation urged drivers to exercise caution and reduce speed due to the ineffective salt on the icy roads, stated in updates acquired by WISH-TV. The exact timing for when I-465 would fully reopen remained unclear.
While authorities handled the aftermath of the incident, INDOT listed 10 active crashes or traffic hazards on Indianapolis area interstates at one point, reflecting a larger issue of road safety amid extreme cold temperatures. Drivers have been advised to stay vigilant about the deceptive 'wet' look of the pavement, which could actually be a sheet of ice. Updates and further information on the crash and road conditions can be found on the respective news outlets' websites.
