Vigo County – Saturday night at approximately 8:40 p.m., an Indiana State Police Trooper escaped with minor injuries on Interstate 70 west bound near the 13 mile marker, after his vehicle was struck by a semi-tractor trailer.
Preliminary investigation indicates that Senior Trooper Tim Rader was working a previous accident involving a semi-tractor trailer that ran off the roadway at this location. Trooper Rader’s vehicle was positioned in the driving lane of Interstate 70, with all his emergency lights activated, diverting oncoming traffic to the passing lane due to the original accident being in the roadway.
A semi-tractor trailer, traveling west bound on Interstate 70, observed Trooper Rader’s emergency lights. The driver then activated his brakes on the 2019 Freightliner. Due to snow and ice covered roads, the driver lost control and the semi-tractor trailer began to jack-knife. The semi-tractor trailer then struck Trooper’s Rader car on the driver side, causing extensive damage.
Both the driver and co-driver of the semi-tractor trailer, from Mississauga, Ontario, were transported to the hospital with non-life threating injuries. Trooper Rader was wearing his seatbelt and received only minor cuts and bruises. Trooper Rader was released at the scene of the accident by medical personnel.
Investigating officer, Trooper Justin Bell, believes that the semi-tractor trailer was traveling too fast for the road conditions and that speed was a contributing factor in this crash.
Troopers were assisted by Riley Fire Department, Trans Care, INDOT, and Eddington’s Wrecker Service.
