Staff Reports
Northbound and southbound lanes of I-65 were closed south of Columbus for hours due to two separate accidents within minutes of each other in the construction zone.
The southbound lanes of I-65 were closed first at about 1:15 p.m. near the 60 mile marker due to an overturned SUV. Minor injuries were reported, Indiana State Police said.
A Jackson County ambulance was sent to go northbound in the southbound lanes to the scene as traffic was blocking Bartholomew County first responders from getting to the accident.
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A short time after Indiana State troopers began working the SUV accident, state police closed the northbound lanes at the 55 mile marker for a recreational vehicle that crashed into the median and caught fire. The occupants were able to escape the vehicle, state police said.
Northbound traffic was diverted off the interstate for the northbound lanes at the 50 mile marker.
Both of the accidents were within the construction zone where contractors are widening the interstate from two to three lanes south of Columbus to Seymour.
The southbound lanes reopened from the SUV accident at 2:10 p.m. An ambulance was sent to the traffic backup at the scene for a medical issue in one of the cars stopped on the incident.
A semi driver also asked dispatchers to send the fire department to wet down his load of pigs in a semi stopped on the interstate in the hot temperatures.
In the northbound lanes, an ambulance was sent out for a patient in the traffic backup who was slumped over the wheel about an hour into the road closure. Northbound lanes reopened at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Indiana State Police said.
