Late Morning Crash on I-69 Results in Fire

AUBURN, IN - A two vehicle crash on northbound I-69 near the 127 mile marker closed both northbound lanes and one southbound lane of traffic late this morning as a result of a two vehicle crash which resulted in one of the vehicles becoming fully engulfed in fire. 

According to Master Trooper Gary Gerardot, at approximately 11:50 am, a 1992 Kenworth semi tractor trailer owned by Bristol Steel and Conveyor Corporation from Davison, Michigan was traveling northbound in the driving lane when it rear-ended a 1992 Ford F-150, which was pulling a flatbed trailer loaded with wooden pallets.   

The pickup and its trailer were pushed forward towards the northbound berm where it stopped and caught fire, but not before the driver, Ellis Thomas, Jr., 59, and his passenger, Joe L. Kizer, 53, both of Fort Wayne got out.  Kizer was transported to DeKalb Memorial Hospital with complaint of pain to his neck.  No other injuries were reported.  The semi tractor jackknifed blocking the northbound lanes of I-69 and its driver, Carl B. Perigo, 59, of Burton, Michigan was not injured. 

A second crash occurred at the same location and involved a 2009 Mack semi tractor trailer owned by Parrish Leasing of Fort Wayne.  The Mack was northbound when it struck the rear of the Kenworth’s trailer that was involved in the first crash.  The driver, Eric R. Henry, 43, of New Haven was not injured. 

Assisting at the scene were the Auburn Fire and Police Departments, the DeKalb County Sheriff Department, DeKalb County EMS, DeKalb County Homeland Security and Parker’s Towing.