A three-vehicle accident involving two semitrailers and a passenger car shut down southbound lanes of Interstate 65 near the 66 mile marker for eight hours Thursday morning.
At approximately 1 a.m., Indiana State Police responded to a report of an accident in an overpass construction zone, said Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, public information officer for the Indiana State Police Versailles Post.
The accident initially occurred when a white Chevy Malibu attempted to pass a Volvo semitrailer on the right shoulder of the interstate, Wheeles said. Wheeles said the shoulder was closed due to the road construction, and that the car struck a concrete barrier. As a result, the car struck the semi, causing it to overturn, Wheeles said. A Freightliner semitrailer then collided into the overturned trailer, he said.
One of the semitrailer drivers was treated for minor injures, Wheeles said.
The occupants of the car fled the scene, Wheeles said. Wheeles said that police believe there were two people in the Malibu, but don’t believe that they are still in Bartholomew County. The occupants were not located by 2 p.m. Thursday.
Trooper Derek Eggers is investigating the incident.
Traffic was diverted off Exit 68 while the interstate was closed. The interstate reopened to one lane at 7:54 a.m. and to two lanes at 9:15 a.m.
