Five Killed, 11 Injured in I-69 Crash in Delaware County

DELAWARE COUNTY, IN - Indiana State Police investigated a single vehicle crash on I-69 in Delaware County Sunday afternoon that claimed the lives of five (5) people and injured eleven (11) others, all from the Amish community. It is believed one (1) family from Allen County was returning another family to Parke County after a church function in Allen County.

Troopers were patrolling on I-69 and were six (6) minutes away from the 4:36 p.m. crash at the 45 mile-marker, which is four (4) miles north of S.R. 28.

The initial information disclosed that a Ford Club Wagon fifteen (15) passenger window van was southbound in the passing lane when it crossed the grassy median and rolled over several times in the northbound lanes of the interstate, ejecting four (4) of the deceased and trapping one (1) deceased in the wreckage. The seating configuration of the van is a front driver's and passenger seat, and four (4) bench seats.  No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Witnesses reported they saw the left rear tire blow out prior to the van leaving the road and the preliminary investigation and inspection of the tire by troopers, support that observation.

Seven (7) air ambulances from P.H.I., LifeLine, Samaritan and Lutheran landed in the northbound lanes of I-69 to air lift six (6) injured to Methodist and Riley Hospitals in Indianapolis, Indiana and Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Five (5) of the injured were transported by ground ambulances to Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana and some were later transported to Methodist Hospital.

It is unclear whether the occupants were wearing seat belts, but two (2) child restraint seats were located at the scene, one (1) outside of the vehicle and another strapped in the vehicle. Emergency personnel combed the area looking for survivors or deceased, due to initial conflicting reports of how many people were in the van.

The southbound lanes were closed for one and one half (1 ½) hours and the northbound lanes for four and one half (4 ½) hours while emergency crews treated the injured and Indiana State Police crash re-constructionists and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division officers conducted their investigation. 

Note: Other than the driver, authorities have relied on family members to identify the deceased and injured.

The following are the names of the deceased and injured:

• Melvin Fisher, age 39, Rockville, Indiana, father and van driver: deceased
• Savilla Fisher, age unknown, Rockville, Indiana, mother: deceased
• Ruben Fisher, age 16, Rockville, Indiana, son: deceased
• Christian Fisher, age 11, Rockville, Indiana, son: deceased
• Eli Fisher, age 1, Rockville, Indiana, son: deceased

• Leon Fisher, age 13, Rockville, Indiana, son: injured, Methodist Hospital
• Melvin Fisher Jr., age 9, Rockville, Indiana, son: injured, Ball Memorial Hospital
• Steven Fisher, age 4, Rockville, Indiana, son: injured, Lutheran Hospital
• Solome Fisher, age 7, Rockville, Indiana, daughter: injured, Riley Children's Hospital
• Joseph Lengacher, age unknown, New Haven, Indiana, father: injured, Ball Memorial Hospital
• Ida Lengacher, age 32, New Haven, Indiana, wife: injured, Methodist Hospital
• Matthew Lengacher, age 9, New Haven, Indiana, son, injured: Ball Memorial Hospital
• Mary Lengacher, age 7, New Haven, Indiana, daughter, injured: Methodist Hospital
• Nathan Lengacher, age 5, New Haven, Indiana, son, injured: Methodist Hospital
• Julia Lengacher, age 3, New Haven, Indiana, daughter, injured: Methodist Hospital
• John Lengacher, age 1, New Haven, Indiana, son, injured: Methodist Hospital

Agencies assisting at the scene were: Delaware County Sheriff's Office, Daleville, Eaton and Gaston Police Departments, Muncie Fire Rescue, Gaston Volunteer Fire Department, Delaware County E.M.S., Gaston, Salem Township E.M.S. and the Delaware County Coroner's Office.

Source: Indiana State Police

Technorati Tags: Local News Amish Delaware County I-69 I-69 Crash I69 Indiana Amish Indiana State Police ISP Muncie Transportation Array

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