Jasper County-A Demotte man was airlifted yesterday evening from I-65 when he lost control of his vehicle and hit two semis.
Preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police Trooper Corey Dupuy revealed that at approximately 5:50 p.m., yesterday, Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015, a 1994 Kenworth semi, owned by U.S. Bulk Transport out of Erie, Pennsylvania, pulling an empty grain box trailer, and driven by Anthony Orndorff, 29 of Hammond, Indiana, was north bound on I-65 at the 226 mile marker (this is four miles south of the Demotte/Roselawn exit). Orndorff was in the left lane passing slower traffic that was traveling in the right lane. A 2002 Honda CRV, driven by Nathan Ruddach, 20 of Demotte, was behind the Kenworth and became impatient after Orndorff passed the slower moving traffic. Before Orndorff could move back to the right, Ruddach moved to the right lane began to pass Orndorff’s semi, cut over too soon, and the CRV’s driver’s rear hit the right front corner of the Kenworth. This caused the CRV to fish tail, over correct, lose control and as it spun out the CRV hit the Kenworth’s trailer. The CRV then started to roll and hit a 2014 Volvo semi, owned by Michigan Produce haulers out of Fremont, Michigan, and driven by David Simon, 53 of Stanton, Michigan. The Volvo was pulling a box trailer loaded with produce (no load was lost in the crash).
Neither Simon nor Orndorff were injured. Neither of their semi’s had to be towed.
Ruddach was airlifted from the interstate to Christ Advocate Hospital in Illinois with non-life threatening injuries. Family was notified.
Trooper Dupuy stated, “If Ruddach had not been wearing his seat belt he may have been ejected from his vehicle. Luckily, for everyone because he was using his seat belt his injuries were much less than they could have been.”
I-65 northbound was closed off and on for airlifting of the injured, removal of the CRV, investigation of the crash, and clean up of the roadway. Roadway was completely opened at 7:06 p.m.
Assisting: Trooper Brandon Bohling, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Troopers Nathan Sherer and Jacob Raupp, Keener Township Fire and EMS and Village Motor
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
-30-
WOJAS
