Interstate 65 doesn’t usually show up on shortlists of the nation’s most deadly highways, but if you live or work in Indiana, you are almost certainly aware of the serious dangers this highway poses.
It’s so bad that area drivers have even created a Facebook page to alert others about injury-causing and fatal car accidents on I-65. It’s called “I-65 Highway of Danger.”
I-65 crosses the heartland of America, north to south. In Indiana, the most treacherous stretch of the highway may be the northern 60 miles between Indianapolis and Lafayette.
Hundreds of people were killed in fatal accidents on I-65 from 2016-2019, according to Teletrac, which analyzed this timeframe. There were more crashes reported in October than in other months.
From September through December 2021, fatal car accidents along I-65 in Indiana have included a:
- Pileup, aka multi-vehicle accident
- Wrong-way crash
- Collision with a parked semi-truck
- Head-on collision with a moving tractor-trailer
- Debris from a previous I-65 crash fatally wounded a person in a later accident at the same location
If you’re driving on I-65, stay alert and drive defensively.
I-65 Indiana Crash Hotspots
I-65 is almost 900 miles long and stretches from Lake Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico, with its south end in Mobile, Alabama, and its north end in Gary, Indiana. About 430 people died in I-65 accidents between 2016 and 2019. The I-65 city with the most deadly crashes is Nashville.
The most common type of deadly crash on I-65 is a vehicle v. vehicle accident. The second most frequent type is fatal pedestrian hits followed by rollovers.
Locally, the nastiest part of I-65 is from Lafayette to Crown Point. In addition, over the last several years, serious and deadly I-65 crashes have taken place in DeMotte, Lowell, Rensselaer, Fair Oaks, and Merrillville.
The worst I-65 crashes frequently occur on or near exit and entry ramps. In recent years, there have been fiery, traumatic collisions with cars and semi-trucks at the I-65 on/off ramps for:
- Rensselaer-Remington
- Fair Oaks
- DeMotte-Roselawn
Highway Safety Improvements
The Indiana Department of Transportation has made many safety upgrades to I-65 including adding and widening lanes. North Split project upgrades at the I-65/70 interchange in downtown Indianapolis are ongoing.
These improvements have the potential to make a big difference in I-65 safety. The roadway is very busy and will likely see even more traffic in the future. I-65 is a major trucking transportation route that connects manufacturers with southern states. There is no parallel freight line to this highway that would alleviate truck transportation.
Major manufacturers that rely on I-65 to move their products include Cummins Inc., Eli Lilly, Toyota Motor Company, and Allison Transmission.
Meanwhile, drivers say more attention needs to be paid to areas of the highway that rise and bend. These sections limit visibility and make it difficult to see stopped traffic in enough time to avoid a chain-reaction crash. Improved signage could also help.
I-65 Car Accident Fault
When negligent drivers cause car accidents on I-65 – or anywhere else – it is important that victims fully understand their right to compensation for medical expenses and losses.
Vaughan & Vaughan is Indiana’s trusted personal injury law firm. Our car accident attorneys have the experience and local knowledge to get you the justice you deserve. With offices in Lafayette, Kokomo, Anderson, Carmel, Indianapolis, and Muncie, we serve all of Indiana.
If you or a loved one were injured in an I-65 wreck with another car, truck, or motorcycle, contact Vaughan & Vaughan for a free case consultation. A member of our legal team can explain how the law applies to you as well as your legal options. There is no obligation. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can investigate your accident and start building a strong case for maximum compensation.
Call, email, or chat online with us today to schedule your free case consultation and learn more about how Vaughan & Vaughan helps Indiana accident victims.
