Crash on Borman backs up traffic for miles
Post-Tribune staff report September 12, 2012 11:51AM
A multiple vehicle accident snarled traffic on Westbound I-80 near the Indianapolis exit. Four semi trailers and a pick-up truck were involved. | Provided photo~Sun-Times Media
Updated: September 12, 2012 11:30PM
Westbound Borman Expressway traffic was backed up for miles Wednesday morning after four tractor-trailers and a pickup crashed just east of the Indianapolis Boulevard exit, sending one woman to the hospital.
Indiana State Police said the crash occurred around 7:02 a.m. when traffic started slowing down for unknown reasons.
Osseo, Wis., resident Michael W. Hathaway, 48, slowed his box trailer in the left middle lane, as did Darrin Parker, 43, of Wilson, N.C. Hartford, Wis., resident Glenn D. Dantuma, 58, couldn’t slow down his double box trailers in time and hit the rear of Parker’s trailer, which caused Parker to crash into Hathaway’s trailer.
Lithonia, Ga., resident Paul Javins, 32, tried to move the tractor-trailer he was driving into the left lane, but he hit Dantuma’s trailer and a GMC pickup driven by Hammond resident Sarah Bunting, 29. Bunting’s pickup was pinned against the median wall and she was taken to Community Hospital in Munster with non-life-threatening injuries. Bunting’s pickup was totaled.
None of the tractor-trailer drivers was injured. Dantuma and Javins were cited for following too closely.
No loads were lost from the semis, but the cleanup forced the closure of the left three lanes of traffic until 10:07 a.m. The crash backed up westbound traffic to at least the Interstate 65 interchange.
Three of the tractor-trailers suffered significant damage. Parker’s was hauling auto parts and it sustained between $5,000 and $10,000 worth of damage, while Danutuma was transporting UPS packages and his rig suffered between $10,000 and $15,000 worth of damage. Javins was hauling food products and his vehicle sustained extensive damage.
