Clay County---On Thursday evening March 14 at 8:30, Indiana State Police and Clay County emergency agencies responded to multi-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 24 mile marker.

Preliminary investigation revealed four tractor-trailer combinations and one passenger car were westbound in the driving lane and came upon a large tree that had fallen into the roadway. The tree was approximately 60 to 70 feet in length and three to four feet in diameter. The first tractor-trailer could not slow in time and struck the tree, then traveled off the west edge of the roadway into a watery ditch. The driver of the first tractor-trailer has been pronounced deceased at the scene. The remaining three tractor-trailers and passenger car sustained moderate to heavy damage, but the drivers were not injured.

Deceased Driver (Tractor-Trailer #1): Robert J. Reedy II, age 53, Brazil, IN.

Family has been notified.

The truck was loaded with canned grocery items and owned by Dart Express Trucking of Minnesota.

I-70 westbound was closed for nearly four hours for tree removal and crash clean-up. The westbound passing lane was opened at 1:45 this morning to alleviate the previous back-up..All lanes are expected to re-open in the next two hours.

The crash was investigated by ISP Troopers Michael Featherling and Don Curtis. Assisting were ISP Sergeants Jared Nicoson and Joe Watts; Indiana Conservation Officers; Clay County Sheriff’s Office; Clay County Coroner Joel Reinoehl; Clay County Search and Rescue; Jackson Township Fire/Rescue; Posey Township Fire/Rescue and Trans Care Ambulance Service.