Posey County – Yesterday at approximately 9:03, Indiana State Police responded to a crash on I-64 eastbound at the nine mile-marker involving a semi and an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) dump truck.
Preliminary investigation revealed an INDOT crew with four vehicles were sealing cracks in the eastbound driving lane at the nine mile-marker. INDOT employee Joyce Jernigan, 62, of Evansville, was driving a 2014 Freightliner dump truck equipped with an attenuator and an arrow board. Her vehicle was completely stopped on the shoulder to alert motorists to merge into the passing lane to avoid striking the crew working in the driving lane. The arrow board on the attenuator was working properly. For unknown reasons, James Taylor, 64, of Dayton, OH, failed to notice the INDOT crew and sideswiped the attenuator and the dump truck. Taylor lost control of his semi, left the roadway on the south side and overturned. No other INDOT vehicles were involved.
Jernigan was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital where she is currently being treated for minor injuries. Taylor was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated by Poseyville Fire Department. He was later airlifted to Deaconess Hospital where he is currently being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Taylor was also issued a traffic ticket for making an unsafe lane movement.
Tow trucks are currently on scene. The eastbound driving lane at the 9 mile-marker will most likely remain closed for several hours. The passing lane is open.
Investigating Officer: Trooper Wes Kuykendall, Indiana State Police
Assisting Agencies: Posey County Sheriff’s Department, Poseyville Town Marshal, Posey EMS and Poseyville Fire Department
