DEKALB CO. – The Indiana State Police is investigating a serious injury crash that occurred shortly before Noon on Tuesday, July 18 on I-69 near the 332-mile marker, just three miles north of Auburn.
The crash involved a semi-tractor trailer that crashed into an INDOT-contracted mowing tractor. This was not an INDOT mowing crew, but rather a contracted mowing service.
The driver of the mowing tractor was critically injured during the incident. He was treated by DeKalb EMS medics at the scene and then transported to a Fort Wayne hospital where he was last listed in critical condition.
The driver of the semi-tractor/trailer was transported to Parkview DeKalb Hospital for further medical evaluation, and also for chemical testing as required by law in all crashes involving serious bodily injury or fatality.
As a result of this crash investigation and clean-up, northbound traffic on I-69 had to be shut down for nearly four hours. Traffic was backed up for several miles and had to be diverted off onto State Road 8 in Auburn during the closure.
This is an ongoing investigation, and at this time, there is no further information to be released.
Once the investigation is complete, the full report will be turned over to the DeKalb County Prosecutor for review and determination of any warranted criminal charges to be filed.
The Indiana State Police was assisted at the scene by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb Parkview EMS, Auburn and Waterloo Fire Department(s), INDOT, and First Call Towing Service.
