Crash closes I-65 in both directions

WHITE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Police said a crash involving a semi filled with highly flammable material took place in the northbound lanes of I-65 in White County at around 1:45 p.m.

The accident took place when a car driven by 24-year-old Brian Packer from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, changed lanes in front of a semi. The driver of the semi, Omar Sanchez of Cicero, Illinois, swerved to avoid this vehicle and struck the median. The semi rolled on its side.

The two vehicles did not collide. Police said Packer was cited for unsafe lane movement.

Sanchez was pinned in the cab initially, but emergency personnel were able to extract him and he was transported away via PHI helicopter, police said. Sanchez was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Campaign, Illinois with injuries to his arm and shoulder, police said.

The semi's trailer was filled with a chemical called Pyridine which police said is highly flammable and can be toxic if inhaled. Firefighters covered the truck in non-flammable foam to prevent it from catching fire before they attempted to move the vehicle.

The crash occured near mile marker 196, between US 231 and US 24, southwest of Wolcott.

The northbound lanes were closed immediately following the crash and remain closed. The southbound lanes were closed shortly thereafter but re-opened at around 3:30 p.m. Police closed the southbound lanes again at about 4:15 so that they could attempt to right the vehicle. The southbound lanes were still closed as of 5:30 p.m.

Traffic is being detoured onto US 231 through Wolcott.

Police have requested that drivers traveling in both directions avoid this segment of I-65.