Tippecanoe County-Yesterday at approximately 11:55 p.m. on I-65 SB near the 178 MM, Indiana State Police at Lafayette were notified of a fiery crash that leaves five people dead and the interstate closed for hours.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Sean Schaefer has revealed that a red 2006 Volvo leased by RJO Express Inc out of Elmwood Park, IL pulling a trailer loaded with frozen chicken wings and driven by Bogufalw A. Leja, 55 of Elmwood Park was slowed for construction traffic. Behind him was a black 2012 Honda Pilot driven by Jill E. Buck, 47 of Greenwood, IN. Following her was a red 2009 Toyota Yaris driven by Mikhail Yuryevich Stepanov, 41 of Lafayette.
A 2015 Volvo owned by TXM Inc out of Lockport, IL pulling a tanker full of cooking oil and driven by Ruslan Pankiv, 34 of Lake Zurich, IL was traveling southbound in the right lane and allegedly failed to slow for the construction. Ruslan failed to slow for traffic and ran into the rear of the Toyota, pushing it off the roadway to the right and into the ditch. The impact killed Stepanov and injured the passenger, Tatiana Yuryevna Stepanova, 31 of Lafayette. The 2015 Volvo continued south and ran into the rear of the Honda Pilot spinning it into the median. The semi still continued and ran into the rear of the trailer hauling chicken wings. The 2015 Volvo then caught fire and the Honda Pilot spun into the two semis and also caught fire. All three vehicles came to rest in the right lane.
By the time police and fire arrived, both the 2015 Volvo, Honda Pilot and the rear of the trailer were fully engulfed in flames. Jill Buck and her two boys, A. J. and Branson ages 8 and 10 respectfully, all succumbed to the fire. Ruslan was also deceased due to the fire. Three other vehicles were also involved but received minimal damage. Their information was taken and the vehicles have left the scene. The investigation is continuing.
The interstate has been closed southbound since the crash. Northbound was opened at approximately 6:30 a.m. Numerous fire departments from Tippecanoe County assisted at the scene. Troopers from the Lafayette Post, Tippecanoe County EMS, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department, INDOT, Lafayette Police Department and Jim’s Wrecker assisted at the scene. All families of the deceased have been notified.
Pictures are of the crash scene.
"UPDATE" I am sorry, I got the driver of the 2015 Volvo backwards. It should be Ruslan Pankiv. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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RILEY
