An accident near a construction zone on Interstate 70 in Henry County on Friday afternoon (Sept. 3) sent westbound traffic onto U.S. 40 in Wayne County for several hours.
Troopers from the Indiana State Police Pendleton District responded to a multiple vehicle crash involving three semi tractor-trailers on I-70 near the 124 mile-marker.
The preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Barry Bischoff revealed a 2018 Freightliner semi tractor-trailer driven by Radenko Dzamic, 68, of Lyons, Illinois, was traveling westbound in the right lane.
Traffic in the area was moving slow due to a construction zone. Dzamic failed to recognize the slower moving traffic and struck the rear of a 2018 Freightliner semi tractor-trailer driven by Ghoitom Hagos, 47, of Columbus, Ohio, police said in a news release.
The impact caused the second semi tractor-trailer to strike the rear of a 2022 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer driven by Charles Williams, 64, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Bischoff and a deputy from the Henry County Sheriff’s Department responded and found Dzamic unresponsive and entrapped in his vehicle.
A small fire started underneath the semi; however, officers were able to extinguish the flames before it was able to spread to the cabin.
Because of the vehicle damage, officers were unable to remove Dzamic from the vehicle. Dzamic was later pronounced deceased by the Henry County coroner.
The ISP Pendleton Reconstruction Team assisted with the investigation. Both westbound lanes of I-70 were shut down for more than four hours for vehicle removal and scene processing.
Hagos and Williams were both transported to a local hospital for a blood draw, which is required under Indiana law from all drivers involved in a serious bodily injury or fatal crash. Neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected of being a contributing factor at this time.
Bischoff was assisted by ISP Sgt. Todd Wallace, M/Trp. Jeremy Woods and Trooper Mark Hanna. Assistance also came from Henry County Sheriff’s Department, New Castle Fire/Medics, Spiceland Township and Knightstown fire departments, and Davis Towing.