4:06 p.m. Thursday
Hunter D. Patton, 58, of Dupont, was driving his 1998 Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the left lane of southbound Interstate 65 when it began to shake then left the roadway and went into the median. The motorcycle hit a hole and went airborne. Patton and his passenger, Kathlene Patton, 55, his wife, were thrown from the vehicle. When it came down, the motorcycle landed on Hunter Patton, killing the Jefferson County man. This was nearly a mile north of the State Road 58 exit.
Immediately afterward
Traffic began slowing and backing up in the southbound lanes approaching the motorcycle accident scene.
5 p.m. Thursday
A semi driver who had slowed in the right lane of southbound I-65 because of the traffic backup was struck from behind by a 2014 Chevy Equinox, driven by Kathy Scroggins, 55, of Commiskey. The SUV became wedged beneath the trailer. Two of her passengers — Addyson Engle, 6, of Seymour, and Keghan McCrory-Engle , 11, of Hayden, were killed. A third passenger, Bryannah Reynolds, also 6, was injured. This occurred just north of the State Road 46 exit , where the interstate crosses the Driftwood River. It took two hours for police, firefighters and medical personnel to free Scroggins. Semi driver James Turner, 61, of Tennessee was not injured.
6:30 p.m. Thursday
Police reported southbound traffic was stopped from the Driftwood River near Columbus north to Franklin (red LINE). Police began exploring options to get vehicles off the interstate and onto nearby roads to alleviate the backup as firefighters, police and accident reconstructionists worked at the scene. Police and ambulance personnel also helped some motorists who were having health issues in the 90-degree heat while stopped on the interstate.
8 p.m. Thursday
Southbound traffic on I-65 reopened.
