MORGAN COUNTY, Ind. — A Martinsville man was killed early Thursday morning when a semi rear-ended his truck on I-69 in Morgan County, according to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.
Just after 2 a.m., Morgan County deputies were called to I-69 northbound at Banta Road in response to a crash.
Deputies arrived to find a semi-tractor trailer with heavy front end damage stopped on I-69 just north of the intersection and Dodge Ram truck with heavy rear end damage in the median.
The driver of the truck — identified as 45-year-old Jason D. Phelps, of Martinsville — was unresponsive. The deputies tried to save his life, but Phelps was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the semi and his co-driver, both from Ontario, Canada, were not injured.
MCSO said evidence at the scene and witness statements indicated that the driver of the semi was traveling northbound on I-69 approaching Banta Road with a green light but did not see Phelps’ pickup truck until it was too late. The semi driver was unable to avoid the crash and rear-ended the truck.
The semi driver was taken to Franciscan Health Mooresville for a chemical test per Indiana law. The sheriff’s office said investigators did not observe any immediate signs of impairment.
The northbound lanes of I-69 were closed for about four and a half hours for the crash investigation and vehicle removal. Indiana State Police is assisting with the crash reconstruction.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.