Bartholomew County-Today, at approximately 1:30 PM, troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post along with deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department responded to a personal injury crash on I-65 northbound near the 58 mile marker.
The initial investigation by Trp. Randel Miller indicated the crash occurred as traffic was slowed due to a previous crash that occurred approximately a half mile north. That first crash, which was investigated by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, involved a semi hauling a trailer that entered the median of I-65 where it came to a rest.
The second crash occurred when a 2008 Volvo semi hauling a trailer driven by Timothy Eric Lill, age 37, Alberta, Canada failed to slow for traffic that had slowed due to the previous crash. Lill’s vehicle collided with the rear of a 2011 Freightliner hauling a trailer being driven by John R. Nichols, age 57, Stryker, OH. Lill’s vehicle then ran off the road and collided with a guardrail before coming to rest on the shoulder of I-65.
Lill was trapped and had to be extricated from his vehicle where he was then flown by Lifeline Medical Helicopter to an Indianapolis area hospital. Lill suffered serious injuries that are not believed to be life threatening at this time. Nichols was not injured.
The northbound lanes of I-65 were shut down for approximately two and half hours with lane restrictions and slowed traffic lasting an additional hour.
The investigation is ongoing. It is unclear if any charges will be filed at this time.
Trp. Miller was assisted by numerous troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, deputies with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the Wayne Township Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department, Columbus Regional Hospital EMS, Lifeline Medical Helicopter, 31 Wrecker, and Seymour Mack Wrecker.
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Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
