Tippecanoe County-Today at about 8:12 a.m. on I-65 SB near the 164 MM (that is four miles south of the SR 38/168 exit), a female was found on the side of the road by persons who thought they saw a hand waving for help!
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Derrick Scott has revealed that a black 2012 Ford driven by Tanequa R. Long, 31 of Indianapolis was SB sometime between 2 and 4 a.m. this morning when she allegedly fell asleep and drove into the center median. The Ford continued SB in the median when it came to an embankment. The Ford went airborne off the embankment and struck the opposite side embankment and rolled under the bridge where it came to rest. No other drivers on I-65 apparently saw the crash for no one stopped and the Ford was not visible from the interstate.
Long was able to climb out the front windshield of the car and with a possible broken ankle and internal injuries, crawled up a steep 30 foot embankment and started to attempt to flag down traffic for help. Several Good Samaritans stopped and administered first aid until emergency personnel arrived and transported Long to IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette and then on to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis with life threatening injuries.
“It took a lot for me to climb that embankment without having a broken ankle and other injuries “stated Trooper Scott. “She had a strong will to live to be able to endure the pain she was feeling.”
Seatbelt does appear to have been in use. Assisting at the scene were Tippecanoe County EMS, Dayton Fire Department and Jim’s Garage.
Picture one is of the car's location to the top of the roadway and picture two is a closer look at the car.
-30- RILEY
