Trailer causes crash on I-69 Family from Canada was injured in the accident

Trailer causes crash on
I-69

Family from Canada was injured in the
accident

Updated: Friday, 26 Jun 2009, 4:26 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 26 Jun 2009, 4:46 PM EDT

GRANT COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - Indiana State Police provided the following information:

Indiana State Police investigated a crash that occurred at 10:55 a.m. Friday morning on I-69 in Grant County, injuring three family members from Ontario, Canada.

Troopers Eric Treon and Nick Campbell (Redkey District) investigated the three vehicle crash on I-69 at the 56 mile-marker which is one mile north of the Fairmount exit.

Preliminary information revealed that a 2004 Ford Excursion pulling a twenty foot utility trailer and driven by Jason R. Rathjen, age 32, 4535 North St. Attica, Michigan, was south bound on I-69 in the right lane when the trailer broke loose and crossed the grassy median.

The trailer continued into the north bound lanes of I-69 and struck a north bound 2006 Honda Odyssey mini-van traveling in the right lane and driven by Thomas R. Gough, age 40, 798 Mosley St. Wasaga Beach, Ontario.

A north bound 2005 Peterbuilt semi-tractor trailer owned by Schneider Trucking and driven by Davis R. Williams, age 49, 6619 Beryl St. Jacksonville, Florida attempted to avoid the wreckage, but struck the trailer.

Gough’s wife, Jane K. Gough, age 42 was riding in the front passenger seat, and their son Aiden Gough, age 5, was riding in the rear passenger seat at the time of the crash. Thomas and Jane Gough were air lifted to Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana by Parkview Samaritan medical helicopter. Aiden was transported to Parkview Hospital by ground ambulance. No other injuries were reported.

North bound I-69 was closed for approximately two hours while emergency personnel conducted the investigation and cleared the wreckage. Trooper Campbell who serves as Redkey District’s crash re-constructionist utilized photogrammetry in this crash investigation.

Photogrammetry is a computer based program that utilizes integrated digital photography with a specialized software program that creates scale diagrams of crash, or crime scenes that are accurate to within 1/8th of an inch. By comparison, a fatal crash scene may take several hours for investigators to collect evidence, and measurements, to prepare a scale diagram utilizing previous traditional methods.

Fairmount Police Department, Fairmount Fire Department, Grant County EMA, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, and Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Division assisted in the crash investigation and traffic control.