Putnam County—This afternoon at 3:15, Indiana State Police and Putnam County emergency agencies responded to a rollover crash on Interstate 70 near the 41 mile marker.
Preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Ford F-150 was eastbound on I-70 towing a gray 1986 Chevrolet pickup. Suddenly, the right front wheel of the Chevrolet broke free and separated from the vehicle, causing the driver of the F-150 to lose control and travel into the median. The Ford F-150 with six passengers then rolled over three times, ejecting one passenger into the westbound lanes of I-70. The wreckage also came to rest in the westbound lanes.
The driver was 34-year-old Candelario Ojeda Jr. He was transported to Putnam County Hospital for head lacerations. The front middle seat passenger, Marisela Reyes, age 35, was ejected. She was transported by air to Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis with multiple injuries. The right front passenger was Alicia Regis, age 67, and she was transported to Putnam County Hospital for fractures and internal injuries. She is expected to be airlifted to Eskenazi Hospital for further treatment. The driver’s side rear passenger was two-year-old Dominic A. Ojeda. He was taken to Putnam County Hospital and later airlifted to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment of head injuries. The middle rear seat passenger was six-year-old Arianna M. Ojeda. She was taken to Putnam County Hospital for treatment of back pain. The passenger side rear passenger was six-year-old Christopher O. Ojeda. He was taken to Putnam County Hospital for lacerations. The three children were in child restraint devices. The driver and all passengers were in the red Ford F-150 at the time of the crash.
There was somewhat of a language barrier, but troopers believe Candelario Ojeda Jr. and Marisela Reyes are the children's parents.
Westbound I-70 traffic was diverted northbound on US 231 to westbound US 40 for approximately ninety minutes.
The crash was investigated by ISP Master Trooper Ritch Reynolds. Assisting were numerous ISP Troopers from the Putnamville Post, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Operation Life, Cloverdale Fire/Rescue, Greencastle Police Department, IU Health Air Ambulance and Trans Care EMS.
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