JASPER COUNTY, Ind. — A liquid sugar truck crashed on I-65 Monday morning, causing a chain reaction of events for morning commuters in Jasper County. Amid the left lane closure, which caused a miles-long backup, another crash occurred, leaving two people, including a 4-year-old boy, seriously injured, according to Indiana State troopers.

The initial crash impacted the left southbound lane of I-65 near mile marker 221 — around eight miles south of the Roselawn exit. A large truck hauling liquid sugar crashed and ended up on its side.

The driver of the liquid sugar truck refused medical attention.

Authorities worked remove the contents from the roadway in addition to offloading the sugar into another trailer and removing the truck out of the ditch, thus causing delays.

Indiana State Police troopers announced a second crash occurred near the 222-mile marker, causing severe injuries to a 4-year-old boy and an adult. Troopers said a 2022 Ford F750 box truck rear-ended a stopped gray 2020 Subaru.

“As a result of the initial impact, the box truck struck the Subaru with such force that the box truck also struck [a white 2019 Toyota Tundra] and [a 2018 Peterbilt tractor-trailer], causing catastrophic damage to the Subaru and the Toyota.”   

The driver of the Suburu was rushed to a nearby hospital after he was extracted from the vehicle. The four-year-old boy, restrained in a car seat inside the Toyota, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital for treatment.

The boy’s parents were also injured.

Both crashes remain under investigation.