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Columbus – A multiple vehicle crash on I-65 in Columbus injured three people and caused the interstate to be closed for nearly three hours.

According to Indiana State Police Master Trooper Jason Duncan, on February 18, 2015 around 09:40 AM, John W. Clark 43, of North Vernon was driving a 2011 Freightliner (INDOT truck with plow) north on I-65 within the 66 mm in the left lane plowing snow towards the median. The snow that Clark was plowing into the median was being blown by the wind back behind him. A 2007 Freightliner tractor driven by Dee Pedler 67, of Brush Creek, TN, was traveling in the left lane behind the INDOT truck. Pedler traveled into the right lane where his truck struck a 2014 Freightliner tractor-trailer combination driven by George L. Houston 50, of Russell Springs, KY. Pedler continued forward and hit the back of the INDOT truck pushing it into the median cable barrier. The trailer Pedler was pulling was then struck by a 2014 Ford Expedition being driven by Mike Haney 61, of Louisville, KY after it jack-knifed across the north lanes of I-65. The 2014 tractor-trailer combination driven by Houston traveled ahead off the road and jack-knifed into a tree line in the ditch.

Pedler was trapped inside his truck and had to be extricated by Columbus firefighters using the “Jaws of Life”. Pedler was transported by ambulance to Columbus Regional Hospital where he was treated for injury to his lower extremities. A small canine in Pedler’s truck was uninjured as well. It was taken from the scene by Columbus Animal Control. Houston was pulled out of his wrecked truck by Trooper Jason Duncan. Houston refused medical attention for pain in his hands. Clark was taken to the hospital to be treated for neck pain by INDOT personnel. Haney was not injured.  

I-65 north was closed at Exit 64 for over three hours.

Trooper Duncan was assisted at the scene by Columbus Fire, Columbus Police, Columbus Regional Hospital EMS and the Columbus station of INDOT.