No injuries were reported after an Isuzu dump truck rolled onto its side on I-69. Photos provided by Indiana State Police.

Press Release

AUBURN — At 9:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, Indiana State Police troopers responded to a reported rollover crash blocking northbound traffic on I-69 near the 326mm, just north of the CR11A exit in DeKalb County.

Upon arrival, officers found a single Isuzu dump-style truck on its side blocking northbound traffic, with what appeared to be strewn gravel all across the roadway. The driver and passenger were trapped inside the overturned wreckage, but appeared to be uninjured.

Master Trooper James Bailey’s preliminary investigation reported that a 2003 Isuzu dump truck, operated by Jacob Bluhm, 29, Fort Wayne, was traveling north on I-69 in the right lane. An eight-foot extension ladder was laying in the roadway ahead of Bluhm’s vehicle. Bluhm attempted evasive action to avoid hitting the ladder, but his truck’s right front tire struck the ladder and lifted the right side of the truck off the ground. The load of limestone in the dump bed shifted, which contributed to the force and momentum which overturned the truck onto its passenger side.

Both Bluhm and his passenger, Christopher Lewis, 25, LaGrange, were eventually assisted out of the wreckage by first responders and found to be uninjured. Thankfully both men were properly restrained at the time of the crash.

The crash had the northbound lanes of I-69 closed for nearly two hours while crews from Parker’s Wrecker Service worked to remove the vehicle and debris from the interstate. Traffic flow was restored at about 11:30 a.m. Jan. 16.

This crash is a prime example of the need for motorists to always ensure that items (such as extension ladders), whether on rooftop racks or in cargo beds, are always properly secured during transport. This crash was a preventable—had that extension ladder been transported securely—and unnecessarily resulted in thousands of dollars in property damage, delayed commerce, and easily could have resulted in personal injury or loss of life.

Master Trooper Bailey was assisted at the scene by multiple troopers from the Fort Wayne Post, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Garrett Police Department, DeKalb County EMS, Auburn Fire Department, and Parker’s Wrecker Service.

The truck driver was attempting to avoid hitting an extension ladder laying in the roadway.