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Jasper County

Jackknifed Semi Closes I-65 Northbound Near Rensselaer

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Jasper County, Indiana – A jack-knife semi closed I-65 northbound for two hours this morning at the 207-mile marker (this is two miles north of the Remington/Rensselaer exit) injuring the driver.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper William Stancy revealed at approximately 5:35 a.m., this Wednesday, April 4, 2018, morning, (male), 45 of Round Lake, Illinois was driving a 2008 Volvo semi pulling a box trailer, owned by Saia Motor Freight Line Incorporated out of Houma, Iowa when he lost control. Chioke was in the right lane northbound and road conditions were slick/icy when he jack-knifed. The semi went off the roadway crashed into the center median barrier cable, which caused extensive damage to the tractor and approximately fifty yards of the median cable barrier.

The Volvo then traveled back onto northbound I-65 and the tractor went into the east side ditch and the trailer blocked both lanes of I-65 northbound at the above location. The trailer was empty at the time of the crash.

Chioke was wearing his seatbelt and was taken to Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer with non-life threatening injuries.

All lanes northbound were reopened at approximately 7:40 a.m.

SOURCE: Indiana State Police

Justin Dennis Altwein, 25 of Wausaukee, WI, Arrested After I-65 Altercation

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Indiana State Police sent this bulletin at 07/06/2017 01:42 PM EDT

Tippecanoe County – Today at approximately 10:15 a.m. on I-65 southbound near the 200-mile marker (that is near the White/Jasper County Line, US 24/201 Exit), an altercation allegedly involving a gun occurred between two drivers with one ending up in jail.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Ben Rector has revealed the driver of a white 2013 Ford Focus had allegedly pointed a gun at the driver of a white semi as they were both traveling SB on I-65. The driver of the semi called the police to report the incident. He gave a description of the vehicle and troopers from the ISP post at Lafayette located the vehicle traveling SB near the 184 MM.

The vehicle exited at the SR 43/178 exit and troopers pulled the vehicle over. The driver exited the vehicle, made verbal and hand gestures to the troopers and took off running. Master Trooper Aaron McCormick and Trooper Nathan Hampton took off on foot in pursuit of the male subject. They chased him through the woods, then into a corn field and ended up in a bean field where he was apprehended by McCormick. The foot pursuit lasted about five minutes and was about a mile and a half in length.

The suspect and driver of the Focus was identified as Justin Dennis Altwein, 25 of Wausaukee, WI. He is being booked into the Tippecanoe County Jail on charges of a Felon in Possession of a Handgun and Resisting Law Enforcement. Other charges may be pending out of Jasper County. At this time, the female passenger in the Ford Focus is not being charged with any crime.

Trooper Rector was assisted by several troopers from the ISP Lafayette Post, Troopers from the Commercial Motor Carrier Section, Officers with the DNR and Jim’s Towing.

Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Zachary V. Valente, 25 of Rockton, Illinois, Injured in I-65 Roll Over

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Indiana State Police sent this bulletin at 06/05/2017 01:37 PM EDT

Jasper County – A single-vehicle roll-over injured the driver sending him to the hospital, yesterday, Sunday, June 4th, 2017, afternoon.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Kim Zelnis revealed at approximately 5:23 p.m., on I-65 south bound at the 200 mile marker (this is 15 miles south of the Rensselaer exit) a 2010 Dodge Caliber driven by Zachary V. Valente, 25 of Rockton, Illinois was in the left lane when an unknown tan vehicle went to pass the Caliber in the right lane.

The tan car attempted to change lanes back to the left and almost side swiped Valente’s Caliber. This caused Valente to over-correct to avoid the tan car, lose control in the gravel as he went off the roadway, and roll the Caliber 2-3 times across the center grassy median.

The tan vehicle continued southbound without stopping. Valente’s Caliber came to rest on its top near the northbound left lane.

Valente was taken to Franciscan Health Hospital in Rensselaer with non-life threatening injuries.

Assisting Trooper Butch Crowder and Cooper’s Towing

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Kayla Williams, 3, and Keyida Moore, 37, Ejected in I-65 Crash

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Indiana State Police sent this bulletin at 06/04/2017 07:12 PM EDT

Jasper County – A single vehicle crash this Sunday, June 4, 2017, afternoon, resulted in a woman and three year-old child being ejected from the car.

Preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Aaron Trammel revealed, at approximately 12:50 p.m., a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by Eric W. Williams, 31 of Kokomo, was south bound on I-65 at the 217 mile marker (this is two miles north of the Rensselaer exit) when his rear tire blew. This caused the SUV to lose control. It went off the roadway to the left, went through the median hit the guard rail that separates north from south bound traffic, went airborne and rolled.

At one point, one of the back seat passengers, Keyida L. Moore, 37 of Kokomo, and Kayla Williams, 3 years old of Kokomo, sitting on Moore’s lap, neither restrained were ejected out the passenger side window. The SUV rolled onto its wheels up against the cable barriers in the median while Moore landed approximately 10 feet north of the SUV. Kayla Williams landed in the median approximately 30 feet from the SUV.

Eric Williams, his front seat passenger Latisha Yancy, 31 of Kokomo, back seat passengers Niyel Williams, 4 of Kokomo, Kayden Yancy, 3 of Kokomo, and Jayden Smith, 2 of Kokomo were taken to Saint Elizabeth East Hospital in Lafayette with non-life threatening injuries. None of the children were in child restraint seats. It is believed they were seat belted with two of the younger ones sharing one seat belt.

Moore and Kayla were also taken to Saint Elizabeth East Hospital where Kayla was later airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital with serious/critical injuries. Moore also received serious injuries.

Indiana law requires all passengers in a moving vehicle be restrained in a seatbelt or child restraint system while the vehicle is in forward motion

Please buckle-up every time, for every trip, long or short.

“Seat belt usage is one of the simplest ways to enhance your safety and reduce injuries in the event of a crash” said Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter. “Trooper’s will aggressively enforce seatbelt usage to advance voluntary compliance and ensure the safety of Hoosier families.”

Assisting: Lake County Sheriff Department, Jasper County Sheriff Department, Rensselaer Fire, and EMS, and Cooper’s Towing

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Oleh Halatyma Tests for .15% BAC in Rollover Crash on I-65 (May 8)

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Monday, May 8, 2017, 6:41 PM

DEMOTTE (JASPER COUNTY) – **FINAL UPDATE**

Preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Martin Benner revealed that at approximately 8:43 a.m. a tractor-trailer being driven by Oleh Halatyma, 51 from Arlington Heights, IL., was in the south bound right lane of the construction zone of I-65 at the 226.8 mile marker. For unknown reasons the tractor drove into the right guardrail causing the front right front tire to deflate. The semi then side-swiped the outer concrete bridge before it drove off the right shoulder. The vehicle, a 2005 Volvo operating under the authority of Sunrise Highway LLC., Wheeling, IL., then overturned and came to rest in the west ditch. The trailer was loaded with 20,000 lbs. of powdered milk along with a fork-truck.

Further investigation from the crash indicated that the driver is alleged to have been nearly two times the legal limit for alcohol consumption. The driver consented to a certified chemical test which resulted in his testing .15% blood alcohol content as indicated by a certified breath test administered at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. Halatyma was then booked into the Jasper County Jail and is being charged with Operating While Intoxicated, Disregarding a Traffic Control Device and Unsafe Lane Movement.

All lanes of I-65 southbound at mile marker 226.8 are now open. Expect continued delays as heavy traffic will be making its way south through this area. Assisting with the scene cleanup was Cheever’s Towing and the Indiana Department of Transportation. An inspection of the vehicle will be completed by the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division of the Indiana State Police.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Monday, May 8, 2017, 12:36 PM

DEMOTTE (JASPER COUNTY) – **UPDATE**

Motorists are encouraged to use U.S. 41 southbound as an alternative route to I-65. The road is currently closed southbound at exit 230 and traffic is being diverted onto S.R. 10.

Monday, May 8, 2017, 10:55 AM

DEMOTTE (JASPER COUNTY) – On May 8, 2017, at approximately 8:43 a.m., a tractor-trailer was south bound on I-65 at approximately the 226.8-mile marker. This is 3 miles south of S.R. 10 Demotte exit.

Preliminary investigation shows that a semi was traveling south in the right shift lane as this is a construction zone. The semi made contact with the right guardrail causing a tire failure. The driver, Oleh Halatyma, 51 of Arlington Heights, IL., then lost control of the vehicle and drove into the right ditch where it overturned.

The driver was uninjured.

The investigation is ongoing and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes as traffic on I-65 southbound is going to be diverted onto S.R. 10 for removal of the semi.

Cheever’s Towing is on scene and has started the recovery process. This process is fluid and is expecting to take approximately 2-3 hours until completion. Updates will be forthcoming.