An Indiana State Police Trooper responded to a two vehicle crash, yesterday evening, that sent two people to the hospital when they decided to park their vehicle partially in the traveled portion of I-65 with no lights on.
The investigation revealed that Anthony Johnson of Chicago pulled his vehicle over to the shoulder near the 230 mile marker, just south of the Demotte exit, because his vehicle started to smoke. ]After Johnson stopped and parked his car partially in the left lane of I-65 he did not activate his hazard lights. He and his passenger, Roseanne T. Barron of West Lafayette, Indiana, then got out of the car to see what was wrong with it.
A semi tractor, pulling a box trailer, driven by Joseph Gehris, of Fishers, Indiana, approached the vehicle and he stated he did not see the car, because there were no lights on the vehicle, and hit the right rear of the car.
Barron stated she and Johnson were standing in front of the vehicle looking under the hood when she looked up; saw the semi coming, so she began to move away from the car. At that point, the semi hit the car which caused the car to then hit Barron and Johnson. Barron was thrown into a ditch and she sustained a broken leg, as well as multiple other injuries. Johnson had no recall of the crash and sustained a skull fracture and serious gash to his head. Both Barron and Johnson were taken to Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Crown Point where they were admitted.
After hitting the vehicle the semi veered to the left where it went into the median and hit the barrier cables. The semi then started on fire. Gehris was able to get out of the semi by the time the semi was fully engulfed in flames. The semi was completely burned, the box trailer had damage to the front portion of the trailer, and it was NOT loaded. Gehris was not injured.
Johnson was cited for stopping/parking on the interstate. Both Johnson and Barron tested positive for alcohol.
Photos provided.
