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Last updated on Tuesday, April 4, 2017
(SEYMOUR) - This morning, shortly after 6:30, the Indiana State Police responded to a crash with injuries on I-65 Southbound near U.S. 50 involving two tractor trailers. Shortly after 7 a.m., troopers responded to a second crash in the same area which claimed the lives of two Indianapolis residents.
The first crash, investigated by Trp. Jason Duncan, occurred when a 2016 Freightliner being driven by Donald W. Pickens of Manchester, TN rear ended a 2013 Freightliner pulling a flatbed trailer that was driven by Gordon Gorr, Jr. of Indianapolis. The collision sent Pickens to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour for treatment of his injuries. That crash led to partial blockage of the southbound lanes of I-65 for nearly four hours.
The second crash, investigated by Sgt. Stephen Wheeles and the ISP Versailles District Crash Reconstruction Team, occurred Southbound I-65 after traffic had slowed for the first crash. A teal 2003 GMC van, being driven by 62-year-old Thomas Harding of Indianapolis, was unable to stop for the slowed traffic. The van struck the rear of a 2006 Volvo pulling a box trailer that was being driven by 47-year-old Jacek Kamienski of Burbank, IL.
As a result of the collision, Thomas Harding, along with a front seat passenger, 59-year-old Joyce M. Harding, also of Indianapolis, died as a result of their injuries. They were both pronounced deceased at the scene by Jackson County Coroner Michael Bobb. A backseat passenger in Harding's vehicle, 19-year-old Francisco Rodriguez, of Indianapolis, was also injured in the crash. He was transported to Schneck Medical Center by Jackson County EMS before being flown to University of Louisville Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. His condition is unknown at this time.
As a result of this collision, the southbound lanes of I-65 were closed for approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, Seymour Police Department, Seymour Fire Department, Jackson County EMS, Indiana Department of Emergency Management, Indiana Department of Transportation, StatFlight Medical Helicopter, and the Jackson County Coroner's Office.
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