Southbound I-65 reopens in Columbus following crash

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) — Southbound I-65 reopened Tuesday evening after a five hour closure due to an accident that seriously injured a semi driver.

According to Indiana State Police, the crash occurred near the 67.5 mile marker just after 1 p.m. Traffic was slowed in the area as a result of a previous crash when a semi pulling an empty tanker trailer was unable to slow and struck the rear of another semi. The collision caused one of the vehicles to hit another car as well.

One semi driver became entrapped in his vehicle and had to be removed by the Columbus Fire Department. The driver was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital before being transferred to an Indianapolis hospital with possible head injuries. The other drivers were not injured in the crash.

The trailer on one semi was ripped open, spilling paper items onto the highway. In addition, the fuel tank of the other semi was ruptured, causing fuel to spill on the roadway.

The crash remains under investigation.