Fatigued Driver Causes 30th Truck Crash on I-65 Construction Stretch

A silver semi-truck with a white trailer overturned on I-65 near Henryville early Thursday morning, adding to a growing list of accidents in the southern Indiana construction zone. Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls was working a shift in the middle of the widening project when a radio call alerted him to the chaos. A reckless driver report came in first, describing the vehicle moving across the roadway. Within two to three minutes, a second call confirmed the truck had tipped over.

Huls said it can take police and wrecker crews several hours to safely right a truck while the Indiana Department of Transportation project continues. The incident mirrors a similar crash involving another semi-truck that occurred two days prior. With most recent crashes in the area, investigators do not believe speed was a factor. In the Thursday incident, however, the driver was in the wrong lane for semis. Huls noted the driver used the same route every day and was familiar with the conditions, yet fell asleep at an inconvenient location.

Thousands of drivers use this stretch of I-65 in Clark County daily. Early data from the state police indicates a difficult month for motorists. Huls estimates that his unit has handled approximately 30 crashes inside the construction zone since the start of October. The work area spans from mile marker 14.5 to mile marker 25.5.

The Indiana Department of Transportation said the second phase of work should finish in November. However, construction activities are scheduled to continue through 2028. A department spokesperson stated the project aims to add a travel lane and reconstruct pavement along this heavily used segment of the interstate. The goal is to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety for drivers. The design also accounts for future transportation needs in the corridor.

The ongoing work narrows the roadway, creating a bottleneck that frustrates commuters and complicates accident cleanup. While the immediate phase of construction is nearing its end, the long-term project timeline remains in place until the late 2020s. Drivers in the region are advised to expect continued delays and potential closures as crews work to complete the infrastructure improvements.