Steel coil falls from semi on I-65, causing 6-vehicle crash

MERRILLVILLE | A six-vehicle crash on Interstate 65 at U.S. 30 jammed traffic there for hours after the evening rush Thursday as crews worked for hours to remove a steel coil from the road.

No injuries were reported.

According to Indiana State police, at 5:50 p.m., a car was traveling south on I-65 and started to exit at U.S. 30. Traffic was backed up on the ramp and the car swerved back onto I-65, cutting off a semi pulling a trailer loaded with a steel coil.

Dale Gipson, 70, of Lafayette, who was driving the semi, swerved and hit his brakes to avoid hitting the car when the coil broke free from the trailer, landing in the right lane where it rolled and unraveled.

The steel coil went into the exit lane for U.S. 30 and hit a 2012 Hyundai Accent and a 1996 Ford Ranger stopped on the ramp.

The driver of a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro drove across the unraveled steel as he exited onto the U.S. 30 ramp.

The driver of a 2004 Toyota Corolla was behind the semi in the right lane. He swerved to avoid hitting the semi and was hit by a motor home.

Gipson was cited for driving while suspended and for having an unsecured load.

The right lane of Interstate 65 and the exit lane to U.S. 30 were closed for more than five hours as crews worked to remove the unraveled steel coil.