PENDLETON — PENDLETON — A wandering dog and a malfunctioning tractor-trailer reportedly caused a four vehicle crash that kept traffic along Interstate 69 moving at a slow pace for about seven hours Sunday.
The cause of the accident was likely a dog crossing the interstate, investigators said. At one point, the dog was reportedly struck by a vehicle. However, animal officers arriving at the scene near mile marker 20 could not find the dog.
The incident began at about 10:08 a.m. Sunday, when drivers saw the black medium-sized, mixed-breed dog running in the northbound lane near mile-marker 20 along I-69, said Master Trooper Alexander Willis of the Indiana State Police.
Cars began slowing dow to about 20 miles per hour, he said.
A 2009 International tractor-trailer, driven by Jeffery L. Taylor, 43, of Michigan, also slowed. A pin on the trailer came loose and the rear tires “dropped” from the trailer. The rear eight wheels and connecting axle of his tractor-trailer came loose and fell into traffic coming from behind him, Willis said.
The events resulted in a chain reaction crash, Willis said.
A beige 2007 GMC Envoy driven by Melissa N. Levi, 30, of Indianapolis, swerved to miss the axle and tires but her Envoy was struck from behind by a 2005 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Robert L. Jones, 47, of Michigan.
The Envoy was pushed into a 2007 Jeep Liberty driven by Pamela Marcoff, 54, of Indianapolis.
There were three passengers in Levi’s Envoy 54-year-old Deborah Levi of Indianapolis, who suffered a bruised forehead and back and hip pain; 17-year-old Jasmine Morst, who suffered back and neck pain, and 6-year-old Jaiden Marshall who was not injured.
Melissa Levi complained of neck and back pain.
Levi and her three passengers were treated and released from Saint John’s Medical Center in Anderson.
No other injuries were reported at the scene.
Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers inspected Taylor’s trailer and found that a locking pin which holds the axle to the trailer was not engaged, according to Sgt. Mike Burns of the Indiana State Police.
Taylor was arrested at the scene for driving with a suspended license and ticketed for multiple equipment violations reportedly discovered during the inspection of the tractor-trailer.
The tractor-trailer had been carrying heavy rolls of paper that were off-loaded at the scene before the lanes could reopen, Burns said.
After 40 minutes of closing northbound lanes, police diverted traffic around the accident along the emergency lane.
Traffic remained jammed until 5 p.m. Sunday when the tractor-trailer was towed from the scene and all lanes of I-69 were reopened.
Southbound lanes were not affected by the crash.
Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com
Breaking News
Related Photos
-
Aaron Piper
-
Aaron Piper
Discussion
Dog and semitrailer lead to multi-vehicle wreck
I-69 traffic slowed for seven hours
- Breaking News
-
-
Police report human remains in Grant County
Human remains were uncovered by police Thursday morning in Grant County.
-
FBI file: Steve Jobs was considered for government post
FBI background interviews of some people who knew Apple founder Steve Jobs reveal a man so driven by power that he sometimes lost sight of honesty.
-
Florida mogul, facing trial, adopts his girlfriend
The story already had people's attention: A multimillionaire polo magnate was accused of causing a drunken-driving wreck that killed a young man. But now, with his criminal trial approaching, a strange twist has raised even more eyebrows: He has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend.
-
Emergency exercise preceded Ind. fair disaster
High winds. Lightning. Hail. A severe thunderstorm warning. A huge crowd waits for country duo Sugarland to take the stage.
That exact scenario ahead of last summer's deadly stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair was eerily foreshadowed just a month earlier during an emergency exercise that involved the fair's director and numerous city and state officials.
-
Tribe suing beer companies for alcohol problems
An American Indian tribe sued some of the world's largest beer makers Thursday, claiming they knowingly contributed to devastating alcohol-related problems on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
-
LA school in sex abuse scandal reopens
Children returned Thursday to an elementary school where the entire staff was replaced after the arrests of two former teachers on charges of committing lewd acts with students in class.
-
Official: States get No Child Left Behind waiver
President Barack Obama on Thursday will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students, The Associated Press has learned.
-
Sources: Pentagon rules shift on women in combat
Pentagon rules are catching up a bit with reality after a decade when women in the U.S. military have served, fought and died on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
-
Markets buoyed by news of Greek debt deal
Stock markets extended gains and the euro struck a two-month high against the dollar Thursday after the Greek Prime Minister's office said a deal has been struck with coalition parties on new cuts that are necessary for the country to get crucial bailout funds.
-
Indiana GOP governor hopeful lacks enough signatures
Republican candidate for governor Jim Wallace is fighting to make it on the ballot after election officials said Wednesday he came up short in his effort.
- More Breaking News Headlines
-
Police report human remains in Grant County
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
