Redkey Trooper’s Patrol Car Struck on I-69

GRANK COUNTY, IN - Freezing rain caused I-69 and other state and U.S. highways to become slick, which created hazardous road conditions for motorists. The majority of the crashes and slide-offs troopers investigated occurred on I-69 in Grant County between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. today.

Senior Trooper Kevin Miller (Redkey District) was investigating a crash northbound on I-69 at the 59 mile-marker in Grant County, when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle. Neither Miller nor the other driver was injured.

Troopers at the Redkey District investigated 6 slide-offs, 6 property damage crashes and 2 minor personal injury crashes.

Current road conditions within the Redkey District of the Indiana State Police, which include Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Jay and Randolph Counties, are as follows:

·        I-69 in Delaware and Grant Counties are wet with scattered slick spots.

·        U.S. and State highways are wet with scattered slick spots.  

·        Secondary roads (county roads) are wet with scattered slick spots.

·        All roads are open and passable.

Lieutenant Mike Nichols, Commander of the Redkey District reminds drivers that Indiana law requires motorists to approach cautiously when an emergency vehicle is stopped on two or four lane roadways with emergency lights flashing.

“The intent of this law is to protect the emergency and highway personnel who serve the public. Please be alert when you see emergency lights flashing and give them room to do their job safely. With the road conditions as they are today, motorists are driving too fast and need to slow down”, Nichols said.

Violating the law can result in a fine and your license will be suspended up to 2 years if you cause damage to emergency equipment, injury or death to an emergency workers.

Motorists MUST change lanes away from the emergency vehicle if they can do it SAFELY, if not they must SLOW DOWN and proceed with caution. We are asking motorists NOT TO STOP in the roadway, this may cause a chain reaction rear end collision with other vehicles, but SLOW DOWN and/or MOVE OVER.

Indiana emergency vehicles include:

·        Police vehicles                                                                                                                                                                                                    

·        Ambulances

·        Fire trucks and rescue equipment

·        Highway incident-response vehicles

·        Highway work vehicles

·        Vehicle recovery equipment (tow trucks)