INDOT vehicles involved in two crashes

Crash on I-65 in Jackson County; photo courtesy of Indiana State Police

Investigations continue into a pair of Tuesday crashes south of Columbus, each involving vehicles belonging to the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police Versailles Post says that the first crash happened at about 10 a.m. on northbound I-65 near Crothersville. He says that the investigation revealed that a car driven by 29-year-old David Cutrone, of Lake Wylie, SC, was traveling northbound near the 37 mile marker when his vehicle drove onto the shoulder of I-65 and struck the guardrail. The vehicle then struck the rear of an INDOT truck driven by 24-year-old Cody Hobbs, of Scottsburg. The INDOT vehicle was parked on the shoulder while workers were removing debris off the shoulder of the Interstate. Investigators say that Hobbs and a passenger, 49-year-old Darren Jones, of Deputy, suffered minor injuries. A third INDOT worker, 26-year-old Freddie Taylor, of Scottsburg, was outside the vehicle at the time of the crash. He also suffered minor injuries. All three INDOT workers were transported by ambulance to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour.

Police say that Cutrone was initially entrapped in his vehicle after the collision. Firefighters from the Vernon Township Fire Department and Seymour Fire Department ultimately freed Cutrone, who was transported to Schneck Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. Those injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Wheeles says that the right lane of I-65 near the 37 mile marker was closed for nearly two hours after the crash.

Ripley County crash; photo courtesy of Indiana State Police

About two hours later, ISP responded to another crash involving an INDOT vehicle. Wheeles says that crash happened at about noon on State Road 101 at I-74 in Ripley County. He says that the initial investigation determined that an INDOT truck, driven by 42-year-old Kevin Callahan, of Sunman, was traveling northbound on State Road 101 when a pickup truck, driven by 78-year-old Keith Huber, of St. Paul, exited I-74 and drove into the side of the INDOT vehicle. No serious injuries were reported.

Whelles says that State Road 101 was down to one lane for an hour for crash investigation and cleanup.

The investigation into both crashes is ongoing.