Two Vehicle Crash on I-69 in Dekalb County Sends Three to Hospital

AUBURN, IN - The Indiana State Police is investigating a two vehicle crash that occurred on I-69, northbound, at the exit ramp to County Road 11-A (exit 126) this afternoon which sent three people to a local hospital. 

According to Master Trooper Gary Gerardot, at approximately 2:30 pm, a 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis, owned and driven by John Zender, 78, of Livonia, Michigan was traveling in the northbound driving lane.  Zender rear-ended a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Katie L. Mingus, 24, of Fort Wayne that was stopped in traffic because of another crash just up the roadway. 

As a result of the crash, the Malibu, which is owned by White’s Residential and Family Services of Wabash, Indiana, was pushed into the median and the Grand Marquis came to a stop in the northbound driving lane.  Northbound I-69 was closed for a little more than an hour while crews worked to clear the damaged vehicles and debris from the roadway. 

Mingus suffered facial lacerations which required stitches, Zender suffered minor injuries to his right arm and his front seat passenger, Berdie Zender, 95, of Livonia, Michigan’s injury status is not known at this time, though she was conscious and alert at the time of the crash.  All three were wearing their seatbelts and were taken to DeKalb Memorial Hospital in Auburn for treatment. 

The Indiana Department of Transportation assisted with traffic direction at the crash scene.