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Crash involving 4 semi-trucks closes I-70 outside Greenfield, blocks traffic for hours

I-70 outside Greenfield closed for overturned semi, traffic blocked in both directions

GREENFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — A crash involving four semi-trucks blocked Interstate 70 outside Greenfield early Saturday morning, closing both directions for several hours.

The Indiana Department of Transportation said the crash was located between Mount Comfort Road and IN 9, two miles east of Indianapolis.

Capt. Robert Harris with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department told News 8 that the crash happened around 5:20 a.m. Saturday.

Responding deputies learned that a semi-truck pulling double-trailers was going westbound and trying to pass another semi-truck. The driver of the truck with two trailers told investigators that “he thought the truck he was passing was going to move into him, so he swerved left toward the concrete barrier wall.”

As a result, the driver struck the barrier so hard that it pushed the concrete wall into the eastbound lanes. The driver then swerved back and hit the truck he was passing.

A semi-truck traveling in the eastbound lanes also hit the concrete wall that the first driver knocked into the highway.

Harris says in total, four tractor-trailers were involved in the crash. One of the trucks rolled on its side and caught fire. Harris says a very large amount of diesel and oil were spilled onto the highway.

Only one driver sustained minor injuries in the crash. The other three drivers were uninjured. Police say drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the accident.

INDOT says the area between Mount Comfort Road and IN 9 was reopened at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.