Driver ID’d in Bartholomew County fatal crash

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) – An accident on I-65 in Bartholomew County took the life of one person.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and 24 Hour-News 8 news partner, The Republic, 27-year-old Ashley Hichen of Merrillville died in a two vehicle accident.

A caller witnessed the crash and told police they saw a car swerve from the median back across the southbound lane. The car came to a stop in the right southbound lane and was still partially in the travel lane. Police say the accident happened approximately four miles south of the Walesboro exit at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

Police received a call from Jonathan Achterhof, who told police that his van was involved in an accident Sunday evening. According to a release from the sheriff’s department, Achterhof struck a vehicle that he thought was abandoned. Achterhof did not see anyone inside the vehicle.

A few minutes later police received a call from an unknown person that someone was inside the vehicle. When officers arrived they found the vehicle on its side with rear end damage to the vehicle. Achterhof was sitting to the side of the roadway.

Officers found Hichen unresponsive in the car.

Deputies say Hinchen was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. However, police do not believe a seatbelt or cable barriers would have made a difference due to the amount of damage to the vehicle.