Four hurt in crash that shut I-65 for hours

JACKSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - Four people were injured in an I-65 crash early Thursday morning.

Indiana State Police officials said at approximately 12:15 a.m. a 2002 Jeep was stopped on the side of I-65 in Jackson County. It then drove back onto the road, when it pulled out in front of a semitrailer.

The driver of the semi, 40-year-old Markus E. Riker of Highland Heights, Ky., swerved to avoid the crash, but hit the Jeep, forcing it into the guardrail. The semi — hauling Ford diesel engines — struck the guardrail and overturned, rupturing the semi's fuel tank. Oil also spilled from the diesel engines.

Riker was taken to Schneck Memorial Hospital in Seymour with multiple fractures. He was later transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Three passengers from Grand Rapids, Mich. suffered minor injuries. They told police they hired a man they believe was named David to drive them to Georgia. They didn’t know his last name, and police say he fled from the scene. Officers are still searching for him.

The crash closed southbound I-65 for about five hours, and has since reopened. The crash remains under investigation as Seymour Police attempt to locate the fleeing driver.