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Last updated on Sunday, June 16, 2013
(GRANT COUNTY) - Six people were hurt, including two children, in a six-vehicle crash that closed Interstate 69 in Grant County for four hours Friday.
State police investigators say a Toyota Sienna driven by 73-year-old Stephen Knox of Milton, Florida was stopping for a traffic backup around 4 p.m. Friday when it was struck by a passenger van driven by Mark Knepp, 26, of Loogootee, which had been rear-ended by a Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Joshua Forbes, 20, of West Salem, Ohio.
Two children, Bethany, 9, and Alex Brandenburger, 11, who were passengers in Knepp's van were flown from the crash scene to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Both suffered head injuries in the crash and Alex suffered a possible broken leg. Two other passengers of the van, Richard Lengacher, 37, of Grabill, and Nancy Brandenburger were both taken by ambulance to Marion General Hospital. Lengacher had a deep cut on his hand and Brandenburger complained of pain in her hip.
Meanwhile, a Mercury Mariner driven by 25-year-old Timothy Yates of Cottonwood, Arizona struck a Toyota Corolla driven by Roy Roberts, 42, of Fort Wayne and a Chrysler Town and Country driven by 31-year-old Richard Reid of Fishers. Witnesses told police Yates was allegedly trying to drive between the Toyota and the Chrysler as all three drove on the median to avoid hitting slowed traffic.
Yates and his passenger, 23-year-old Kirsten Smith of Oak Harbor, Ohio, were also transported to Marion General Hospital. Smith had a complaint of pain and Yates suffered a leg injury.
Police say both Smith and Nancy Brandenburger are pregnant, but there were no indications that either of their fetuses were injured.
Several other people involved in the crash were checked by paramedics at the scene for cuts and scrapes.
Police continue to investigate the crash, but do not believe alcohol or narcotics were a factor in the crash.
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