Trooper Injured In I-65 Crash

FRANKFORT, Ind. -- An Indiana State Police trooper was injured Tuesday afternoon in a crash involving his patrol car and two tractor-trailers on Interstate 65 in Clinton County.

Sgt. Rich Kelly had pulled over the driver of one tractor-trailer and was in his car doing some paperwork when a second tractor-trailer slammed into the car at about 12:40 p.m., crushing it between the two trucks, state police 1st Sgt. Brian Olehy said.

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Slideshow: Crash Scene
Video: Trooper Injured In I-65 Crash
Raw Video: SkyCam 6 Footage

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Kelly was able to exit his vehicle after the crash and call for assistance on his cell phone, police said. He was taken by ambulance to Home Hospital in Lafayette, where he was in good condition with a broken vertebra and several cuts and bruises Tuesday evening.

"We're very lucky that Trooper Kelly is still with us today and that we are not planning another funeral," Olehy said. "It's very amazing that Trooper Kelly survived, let alone was able to walk away from the vehicle."

The crash happened on the shoulder of northbound I-65 at mile marker 159, a mile north of Indiana 28 and about 13 miles southeast of Lafayette. Northbound lanes of Interstate 65 were closed because of the crash for about five hours.

Olehy said the second tractor-trailer did not obey Indiana's move-over law, which requires vehicles to slow down and move to the left lane to give police officers room to work.

Olehy said the two truck drivers had minor injuries and declined treatment at the scene.

No arrests were immediately made after the crash. Olehy said the investigation could take weeks to complete.