NEWTON, Ind.- State police in Indiana are looking into a crash that occurred on Friday night on Interstate 65 killing one.
Indiana State Police (ISP) says at approximately 6:51 PM, troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on southbound I-65 at the 232.8 mile marker. This location is approximately 2.8 miles north of Exit 230 (State Road 10). The crash involved a semi truck and a GMC Sierra.
The southbound lanes of I-65 were shut down in this area for approximately 3 hours.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a semi truck was parked on the outside shoulder of I-65 for an unknown reason when a GMC Sierra crashed into the rear driver’s side of the trailer. The driver of the GMC Sierra was transported to the hospital by Newton County EMS for non-life threatening injuries, and the passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Newton County Coroner’s office. The driver of the Semi was not injured.
During the crash investigation, ISP developed probable cause that the driver of the GMC Sierra, Garret Markovich, 39, of Cedar Lake, Indiana, was operating his vehicle while intoxicated. ISP said in its release that Markovich was advised of Indiana Implied Consent laws and consented to a blood draw at a nearby hospital. He was then booked into the Newton County Jail on the following charges:
OWI Causing Death – Level 4 Felony
Reckless Homicide – Level 5 Felony
Criminal Recklessness Resulting in Death – Level 5 Felony
OWI Endangerment – Class A Misdemeanor
Reckless Driving – Class A Misdemeanor
OWI – Class C Misdemeanor
Per Indiana Implied Consent following a fatal crash, the driver of the Semi Tractor/Trailer was also taken for a chemical test. The results of these chemical tests are pending.
This crash remains under investigation, and the Indiana State Police are requesting the public’s assistance. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash camera footage of the incident is asked to contact Senior Trooper Glaze at 219-696-6242.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
