(AUBURN) - Two people were injured Wednesday afternoon in a four-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 69 in DeKalb County after a semi's trailer axles failed, triggering a chain-reaction collision.
The crash happened around 1:40 p.m. near the 326 mile marker, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.
Police say a 2015 Mack semi driven by 28-year-old Bryan Thompson of Warsaw was traveling southbound when the trailer axles broke, forcing the truck to stop in the passing lane. Debris from the breakdown was struck by a second semi -- a 2022 Freightliner driven by 59-year-old Steven Clingenpeel of Elkhart -- which then pulled over to the right shoulder.
Moments later, a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country driven by 23-year-old Breeanna Mills of Fort Wayne failed to see the disabled semi and crashed into the rear of Thompson's truck. Mills' vehicle came to rest in the driving lane.
A fourth vehicle -- a 2024 International semi driven by 60-year-old Martin Davis of Lexington, North Carolina -- then struck Mills' vehicle.
Mills reported head pain, and Clingenpeel reported chest pain. Both were transported to a hospital by Parkview EMS. No other injuries were reported.
The Chrysler minivan was totaled. Damage to the Mack semi and the International semi was estimated at about $10,000 each.
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Auburn Fire Department, Indiana State Police, Auburn Police, Central Communications, and Parkview EMS.