Anthony Bull, 60, of Charlotte, North Carolina, died after his tractor-trailer left northbound I-65 near Columbus, Indiana, on Wednesday afternoon. The Bartholomew County Coroner's Office pronounced him dead after responders treated him at the scene.
The 2020 Volvo left the roadway at about 4:15 p.m., roughly a mile north of the U.S. 31 exit, according to WISH-TV, which cited an Indiana State Police release. The truck struck a guardrail before coming to rest among trees on the east side of the road. WRTV also reported the crash.
State police Sgt. Seth Davidson said a medical episode may have contributed to the crash, but investigators had not determined its cause, Fox 59 reported.
Federal Medical-Qualification Rules
Federal regulations generally require drivers subject to 49 CFR Part 391 to be medically certified as physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle, according to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. That general requirement does not establish Bull's certification status or determine whether a sudden medical event caused this crash.
Northbound I-65 Reopened After More Than Three Hours
Northbound traffic on Interstate 65 was affected for more than three hours during the investigation and cleanup, per the same account from WISH-TV. Fox 59 similarly reported that the affected lanes were closed for over three hours before they were reopened, with state police confirming the investigation remained active.
Multiple agencies responded to assist at the scene, including the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Columbus Regional EMS and the Columbus Township Fire Department, the WISH-TV report noted. The multi-agency response reflects the scale of the cleanup needed after a tractor-trailer left the roadway and came to rest off the shoulder among trees.
Cause Remains Unconfirmed
A medical episode remains one possible factor, not a confirmed cause. State police said the investigation into why the truck left the roadway was ongoing.
