Bartholomew County officials confirmed that a fatal traffic accident occurred Wednesday morning on Interstate 65 near mile marker 73, just outside the city of Columbus, Indiana. The driver, identified as 60‑year‑old Anthony Bull of Charlotte, North Carolina, was operating a loaded semi‑truck when he lost control, struck a guardrail and careened into a stand of trees.
Details of the crash
According to Indiana State Police, Bull was traveling northbound when the semi‑truck veered off the roadway. After hitting the guardrail, the vehicle continued off the pavement and came to a stop amid the trees. A medical helicopter crew arrived on scene to evaluate the driver, but he was pronounced dead at the location of the crash.
Possible cause
Investigators are treating the incident as a medical‑episode‑related crash. While the exact nature of the medical event has not been disclosed, authorities indicated that a sudden health issue may have contributed to the loss of vehicle control.
Impact on traffic
The accident forced the closure of all northbound lanes of I‑65 for more than three hours while emergency responders cleared the scene and conducted a preliminary investigation. Drivers were detoured onto alternate routes, and local law enforcement advised motorists to allow extra travel time in the area.
Community response
Residents of Columbus and the surrounding Bartholomew County area expressed concern over the disruption, noting that I‑65 is a major north‑south corridor for commuters and freight traffic. County officials reminded the public that safety remains the top priority and that crews worked quickly to restore normal traffic flow.
Next steps
The Indiana State Police will continue their investigation to determine the precise cause of the crash. A full report is expected to be released once the medical and mechanical aspects of the incident have been reviewed.
Authorities encourage anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about the incident to contact the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.
Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.
