Redkey Trooper Struck and Injured on I-69

Trooper Lee Ross, age 28, (Redkey District) was struck and injured on I-69 at the 65 mile-marker in Grant County at 9:05 p.m. last night. He is a five year veteran of the Indiana State Police. 

Ross and several other troopers had been working on I-69 all day investigating crashes and slide-offs in Delaware and Grant Counties. Heavy snow fall caused I-69 and other state and U.S. highways to become slick, which created hazardous road conditions for motorists. Strong winds also reduced visibility to nearly zero. 

Ross was physically checking an abandoned vehicle in the median to determine whether it was occupied, it was not. His fully marker police cruiser with emergency lights activated, was park on the inside shoulder of I-69.  

Ross was standing at right front of the cruiser when a south bound 1993 Honda driven by Julia A. Lebrell, age 23, 130 Claremont Street Dearborn, Michigan lost control of her vehicle and struck the trooper and his cruiser.  

Ross was transported by Grant County EMS to Marion General Hospital with complaint of pain, and later released. The cruiser sustained minor damage. Lebrell was not injured. Ross was wearing his department issued lime green high visibility reflective traffic safety vest at the time he was struck. 

During the history of the Indiana State Police, there have been seven (7) state troopers, and one (1) motor carrier enforcement officer struck and killed while working alongside Indiana roadways.

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 must slow down”, Nichols said. 

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.  

Indiana emergency vehicles include:

• Police vehicles                                                                                                                                                                                                    
• Ambulances
• Fire trucks and rescue equipment
• Highway incident-response vehicles
• Highway work vehicles
• Vehicle recovery equipment (tow trucks)