Gas City – Today, at approximately 3:22 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department responded to a three vehicle crash on I-69 at the 58 mile marker, in which one person was killed.

The preliminary investigation by Trooper Caleb Clark revealed that James Ilari, 48, Louisville, KY, was driving a 2000 Freightliner semi-tractor, pulling a box trailer, southbound on I-69 near the 58 mile marker. The semi-tractor was being followed by a 2003 Buick LeSabre. The Freightliner and the Buick were slowing down because of heavy traffic from an approaching work zone. A southbound 2007 Freightliner box truck, driven by  Brad Anderson, 40, Danville, IN, rear-ended the Buick pushing it into the back of the semi trailer. The crash impact ignited a fire which engulfed the Buick and the cab of the box truck.

After firefighters from the Upland Fire Department extinguished the flames, one person was found deceased in the Buick. Anderson was transported by ambulance to Marion General Hospital with burns to his arms and legs. He was later airlifted to Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis. Anderson was helped from his burning vehicle by passersby who cut off his seat belt and assisted him from the truck. Illari was not injured.

At this time, the use of neither alcohol nor narcotics is suspected as having contributed to this crash.

Ilari was driving for TSI Trucking based in Jefferson, IN. Anderson was driving for Jet Express Trucking based in Plainfield, IN.

This crash is still under investigation.

The deceased has yet to be positively identified. 

Trooper Clark was assisted at the crash scene by Indiana State Police Sergeant Rick Brown, Trooper Jeremy Perez, Trooper Bart Stouffer, Master Motor Carrier Inspector Darryl Brane, conservation officers from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, The Grant County Coroner’s Office, and Grant County Emergency Management.