Jun 26, 2009 10:26 am US/Central
Family Of 5 Dies In Indiana Expressway Crash
Semis, Pickup Truck Crash On I-65 At U.S. 231
CROWN POINT, Ind. (CBS) ―
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A family of five was killed in this fiery crash involving a pickup truck and two semi-trailer trucks in Northwest Indiana early Friday.
Indiana State Police
A mother, father and their three children from Hobart, Ind., were killed after a crash with two semi trucks that shut down Interstate 65 in Northwest Indiana.
The crash happened at U.S. 231 on southbound I-65 around 4 a.m. near Crown Point, Ind. The family was driving a Dodge pickup that was involved in a chain-reaction crash with two semis, Indiana State Police said.
The family members were indentified as Brian and Joanna Workman and their three young children, Ashley, 13, Tyler, 8, and Ryan, 1.
SLIDESHOW: Scene Of The Fatal Accident
A 1999 International semi flatbed truck was in the right lane, when traffic slowed down for a stopped car that was being towed away following a separate incident, state police said. The driver of the truck, George Hack, said he felt something hit him from behind, and later realized it was a Dodge pickup, state police said.
A 2004 Sterling semi with double box trailers was headed over a hill just before reaching the crash scene. Its driver, Forest Stover, didn't stop in time when he noticed traffic had slowed down. He hit the back of the pickup truck.
The front of the pickup truck was pushed into the back of Hack's semi truck. The pickup truck burst into flames, which spread to Stover's semi.
Hack and Stover escaped injury.
The 1999 International semi with flat bed trailer was owned by South Hill Trucking of Elkhorn, Wis., and the semi was loaded with approximately 50,000 pounds of coil rod going to Indianapolis from Saukville, Wis. There was no loss of load, according to the release.
The Sterling semi with double box trailers owned by Con-Way Central Express out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, according to the release, which said that semi was loaded with approximately 65,000 pounds of general freight going from Gary to Dayton, Ohio. There was no load loss and the fire was contained to the semi tractor.
All traffic remained shut down on southbound I-65 as of the 9 a.m. hour. Motorists are being directed to get off at the Crown Point exit and get back on at U.S. 231.
The STNG Wire contributed to this report.
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