MT. COMFORT — A late-night crash Wednesday, July 28, on Interstate 70 claimed the life of a Franklin woman whose minivan struck the rear of a semitrailer-truck that was stopped in traffic.
The crash happened at about 11:50 p.m. near County Road 600W. Traffic in the area had been slowed due to an earlier collision on the interstate.
The crash involved a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Melissa Welch, 46, and a semi driven by Matan Hasan Nuur, 41, of Columbus, Ohio. Both vehicles were eastbound. Capt. Robert Harris, public information officer for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, said the semi’s emergency flashers were activated, but for some reason the driver of the Caravan must not have seen them and hit the back of the truck.
It was a bad night to be traveling eastbound on I-70 through the area. Officials said that at the time of the fatal crash, traffic was already being diverted off I-70 at the County Road 600W exit due to a previous crash on I-70 that involved three semis. That crash had occurred near the 113-mile marker east of Greenfield, and the county 911 center sent an alert suggesting drivers should get off at the Mt. Comfort or Greenfield exits to avoid the backup. That crash was still being cleared when the fatal crash occurred near the 95-mile marker, Harris said.
The driver of the minivan died at the scene. The driver of the semi was not injured.
The driver of the semi cooperated with law enforcement and submitted to a blood draw. Harris noted that drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be a factor in the crash.
I-70 was closed for about three hours while officers investigated and cleared the scene. The interstate wasn’t completely open from both crashes until after 3 a.m. Members of the McCordsville Police Department, Fortville Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, New Palestine Police Department, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Buck Creek Fire Department and the Hancock County coroner’s office all assisted with the incident.
Numerous crashes have occurred this summer on I-70 in Hancock County. Many of them — including the crash involving the three semis earlier Wednesday evening — have happened in or near the construction zone east of Greenfield. Harris said drivers must be alert to the possibility of suddenly stopped or slowed traffic. They should slow down; be aware of traffic around them; and pay attention to the road, signs and construction crews.
“The two primary causes of almost all crashes in these zones are drivers not paying attention and following too closely,” Harris said. “The faster the speeds, the more severe the crash.”
