Press release:
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chief Joel Bomgardner
Northern Monroe Fire Territory responded to Interstate 69 for multiple accidents.
NMFT units were dispatched to mile marker 128 southbound on I-69 earlier this evening at approximately 7:15pm for a reported vehicle fire. First arriving crews on scene reported a well involved pickup truck on fire in the median. While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire crews were informed of a wreck involving three vehicles just past the vehicle fire also in the southbound lanes. At that time due to the unknown extent of the three wrecked vehicles NMFT units on scene requested Ellettsville Fire Department to respond its rescue truck for assistance. The three cars collided with each other as a chain reaction trying to avoid hitting the pickup truck as it was diving into the median. The fire in the pickup truck came through the cab causing flash burns to the right side of the driver’s body. The driver was transported emergent to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment. One driver of the three cars was also transported to the hospital for minor injuries.
As crews were working on the accident a call came in for another accident on southbound I-69 at mile marker 122.5. Ellettsville’s rescue truck was able to divert to the incident until NMFT units were freed up from the previous accident. Fire units arrived to find a single vehicle over the embankment. No injuries were reported and the accident was caused by a blown tire, according to the driver of the car.
NMFT units remained on the scene of the vehicle fire for approximately an hour to make sure all fire was out and the road was cleaned up. I-69 southbound and northbound had partial lane closures during the incident while crews worked.
NMFT was assisted on the scene by IU Health Ambulance Service, Ellettsville Fire Department, and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
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