Fatal I-65 crash in White Co. closes southbound lanes

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A multi-vehicle crash on I-65 in White County claimed one life and is disrupting traffic and drawing emergency crews to deal with the wreckage.

According to White County dispatchers, three semi tractor-trailers collided just after 2 p.m. on southbound I-65 near mile marker 189, which is a mile or two north of the Brookston exit.

Indiana State Police (ISP) investigations show that before the accident, traffic in the area had slowed due to cleanup from an earlier crash of a semi into the median. Traffic had slowed through the area.

ISP says a blue and white International Brinks truck driven by 60-year-old Earl C. Hall of Beech Grove, Ind., had slowed. A white International semi leased from One Source Rental in Lafayette, driven by 37-year-old Kirk A. Long of Frankfort, had slowed behind the Brinks truck.

Long looked into his rearview mirror and saw an orange Freightliner was not slowing down. The Freightliner hit the rear trailer of the international semi, which in turn was pushed into the rear of the Brinks truck.

The driver of the Freightliner was pronounced dead on the scene. That driver's name will be released once the family is notified.

The driver of the International, Long, was uninjured. The driver of the Brinks truck, Hall, and his passenger, 37-year-old Edvardo A. Ruiz, were transported to IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette with non-life-threatening injuries.

ISP says there is total lane blockage and as of just after 5 p.m., ISP says it could take at least 2 hours before any lanes will be back open.

You're advised to take an alternate route of I-65 southbound to exit 201. Take exit 201 and head east on U.S. 24/U.S. 231. Continue to travel south on U.S. 231 when the U.S. 24 and U.S. 231 split. Continue south on U.S. 231 to State Road 18 and turn left onto SR 18. Continue roughly two miles and return back onto I-65.

And, if possible, avoid the area altogether Friday evening.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.