Grant County, Ind. – Yesterday, at approximately 5:20 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police responded to a two vehicle crash on I-69 near the 271 mile marker, in which an Oklahoma man was injured.
The preliminary investigation by Trooper Jeremy Perez revealed that Basile Popescu, 62, Saline, MI was driving a 2013 Volvo semi-tractor, pulling a box trailer, northbound on I-69 near the 271 mile marker. The Volvo was being followed by a 2014 Freightliner semi-tractor, driven by Jason Welch, 36, Oklahoma City, OK. The Freightliner was also pulling a box trailer. The Volvo was slowing down because of upcoming traffic from an approaching work zone. The Freightliner did not slow down and rear-ended the Volvo.
Welch was flown from the crash scene, by a medical helicopter, to a Ft Wayne hospital. He has life threatening injuries. Popescu was not injured.
The investigation is ongoing, but at this time neither the use of alcohol nor narcotics is suspected as having contributed to the crash.
Popescu was driving for Horizon Express based in Milan, MI. Welch was driving for Thomas Keller Trucking based in Defiance, OH.
The crash investigation and cleanup required the northbound lanes of I-69 to be closed for approximately five hours.