Tippecanoe County-Today at approximately 2:04 p.m. Sergeant Kim Riley was on a traffic stop on I-65 southbound near the 175 mile marker when to his left in the northbound left lane, he heard a crash of three trucks colliding sending one to the hospital.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Tyler Stinson has revealed that traffic NB in the left lane had slowed for a vehicle that had a flat tire and was trying to get out of the construction zone. A 2007 Volvo pulling a box trailer which was behind the disabled car, and driven by Jim Collins, 63 of Oak Lawn, IL had slowed along with a white 2016 Freightliner straight truck driven by Troy J. Lewandowski, 27 of Lansing, IL. A Black Toyota was behind the Freightliner when a 2001 Peterbuilt driven by Thomas L. Jones, 52 of Paoli, IN was pulling a flatbed trailer with large stone blocks allegedly did not see traffic slowing and passed the Toyota on the right before hitting the Freightliner pushing it into the trailer pulled by the Volvo.
Neither Collins nor Lewandowski were injured in the crash. Jones was entrapped in the Peterbuilt and had to be extricated from the truck by the Lafayette Fire Department. He was transported to IU Arnett Hospital with leg injuries. The interstate was shut down for about two hours for cleanup and transporting of injured driver.
Assisting at the scene were Troopers from the ISP Lafayette post, Lafayette Fire Department, Tippecanoe County EMS, J & T Wrecker Service and Walsh Construction. The investigation is continuing.
Picture is of the Freightliner and the Peterbuilt semi being removed by J & T Wrecker Service.
Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
