FRANKLIN — Indiana State Police said a Muncie woman was killed in a multiple vehicle accident on southbound I-65 near the Franklin exit at noon Saturday.
When police arrived, they found an adult female unresponsive and unconscious along with two other adults who were ejected from a vehicle, state police said. Christine Lykins, Muncie, was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other people involved in the crash were taken to area hospitals.
Preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionist Trooper Joe Malone revealed southbound traffic was backed up in the area due to road construction. A silver Buick, driven by Lykins, rear-ended a stopped Ford-F-250 who subsequently rear-ended a black Cadillac SUV. Two passengers ages 20 and 19, who were in the back seat of the silver Buick, were ejected through the windshield. Investigators do not believe any of the occupants of the Buick were wearing seatbelts.
The driver of the Ford truck was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and the driver of the black Cadillac was also transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The fourth vehicle, a semi-tractor trailer, left the scene. Investigators believe the semi was completely stopped in the traffic and was bumped into as a result of the chain reaction crash, however investigators are following leads to try and locate the semi.
The southbound lanes of I-65 were closed for more than two hours while the crash was investigated. The Johnson County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.
Indiana State Police said no further information is being released at this time.
