Full Notification

Henry County – A crash this morning on I-70 in Henry County had west bound traffic blocked or restricted for over an hour and a half as crews worked to investigate and clear the scene.  Around 8:40 a.m. Trooper Doug Snyder was west bound on I-70 at the 128 mile marker, west of the New Lisbon Exit, when he saw a Dodge SUV behind him in the passing lane swerve off the left edge of the road.

The vehicle entered the gravel on the edge of the median, then back onto the road crossing the passing lane and hitting the rear tires of a semi trailer in the driving lane. After the SUV glanced off the semi trailer it then traveled back across the passing lane where it hit the barrier cables and rolled onto its side.

Snyder was able to help three of the vehicle occupants out, but the front seat passenger had to be extricated. A medical helicopter was summoned for Jose Penaloza, age unknown of Philadelphia, PA, the front seat passenger.

He was later found to have only minor injuries.  The female driver of the SUV, Yureisi D. Penaloza, age 18 of Buffalo, NY, was transported to St. Vincent in Indianapolis by ambulance for a minor calf injury. Backseat passenger, Juan Carlos Esquivel Zelocualtecatl, age 36 of Mexico, was also transported by ambulance to St Vincent for minor head and neck pain.

Also transported by ambulance to St Vincent was back seat passenger Ofelia Rugerio Rodriguez, 32 of Mexico, for minor injuries. The driver of the semi, Ruben Prusso, age 31 of Livingston, CA, was uninjured.

Snyder was assisted at the scene by the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, IU Medical EMS, Henry County EMS and the Straughn and New Lisbon Fire Departments. Trooper Snyder said that “seatbelt usage by the SUV occupants in this crash prevented serious injuries.” Seat belt usage reduces your risk of injury in a crash by 50%.