Illegal U-turn cited for I-70 crash - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A three-vehicle crash closed Interstate 70 in western Indiana Tuesday afternoon.

State police say 90-year-old Thelma Tiefel of Clay City attempted to make an illegal U-turn from the right lane of westbound I-70 in a paved crossover near the 22 mile marker around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday. She was struck on the driver's side by a tractor-trailer traveling in the left lane. The impact forced Tiefel's car back into the right lane, where it struck the driver's side of another trailer.

Tiefel's Chevy Malibu came to rest in the ditch north of the westbound lanes. She suffered head injuries and was airlifted to Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis after crews extricated her from her car. She is believed to be in critical condition. Troopers do not believe Tiefel was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

At 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, state police said Tiefel was listed in stable condition.

Neither semi driver was injured, police said.

The semi which struck Tiefel's car, driven by 37-year-old Jose Tello of Laredo Texas, caught fire and was engulfed in flames before fire departments arrived. State troopers closed the eastbound lanes of the interstate as a safety precaution, as rescue personnel believed the trailer contained hazardous chemicals.

The eastbound lanes were reopened about an hour after the crash, with one lane of westbound I-70 reopened about a half-hour later. The left lane of westbound I-70 remains closed at the 22 mile marker as hazardous material crews continue to clean up the crash site. The clean-up could last into the overnight hours, police said.