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Construction worker killed in crash involving suspected drunk driver on North Split

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Posted at 9:00 AM, Jul 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-25 09:13:54-04

INDIANAPOLIS — A construction worker died early Saturday when an alleged intoxicated driver crashed into a construction zone at the North Split on Interstate 65.

Dispatchers received calls just after midnight about a multiple vehicle crash on I-65 near the 111.6 mile marker, according to information from Indiana State Police. Callers reported a man was lying on the road and was unconscious.

Bystanders performed CPR on David Vasquez Jr., 23, of Terre Haute, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 24-year-old Indianapolis woman was arrested in the crash and preliminary charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death.

The right lane of I-65 was temporarily closed for construction at the time of the crash. State police said the preliminary investigation led officers to believe a car driven by the woman approached the construction zone in the right lane prior to the lane closure.

"The driver of that vehicle failed to merge to the left, instead swerved to the right to avoid collision with the arrow board which was indicating the lane closure," a news release from Indiana State Police said. "Once on the right shoulder the passenger vehicle struck Mr. Vasquez Jr. who was standing inside the construction area. After striking the pedestrian, the vehicle struck a stationary construction truck, then spun into the lane of traffic striking a semi and another vehicle."

There were no other injuries in the crash, which remains under investigation.