Intoxicated, wrong-way driver causes I-69 crash and jackknifed semi
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WISH) – One woman is behind bars following a Tuesday evening crash in Fort Wayne, according to the Indiana State Police.
ISP said that around 8:45 p.m., a 2018 Honda CRV, driven by Krista Stefanek,48, entered the southbound lanes of I-69 while headed north from the Goshen Road interchange.
Police said Stefanek continued north in the southbound lanes as she approached a semi-tractor/trailer driven by 45-year-old Edgar Pena-Gonzalez.
Pena-Gonzalez tried to avoid hitting Stefanek’s CRV but was unsuccessful, ultimately resulting in a head-on collision. The collision caused the semi to jackknife, blocking the left and middle southbound lanes, police said.
As the investigation of the crash was underway, Stefanek, through her interactions, led officers to believe she was under the influence of alcohol. ISP said Stefanek was uncooperative and refused any and all chemical testing.
Stefanek was arrested and transported to the Allen County Jail. She faces preliminary charges for operating while intoxicated, endangering a person, OWI and resisting law enforcement.
ISP said the area was shut down for several hours as hazmat crews were called to clean up the crash site, which involved a fuel spill. Those lanes were eventually opened just before 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Police did report any injuries.
