This information is preliminary and subject to change.
Release Date 5 March 2026
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, about 3:31 p.m. eastern standard time, a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia truck-tractor, in combination with a 2026 Wabash Dry Van Duraplate 53-foot-long semitrailer (commercial motor vehicle [CMV] 1), operated by AJ Partners and occupied by a 30-year-old male driver, was traveling east on State Route 67 (SR 67), near Bryant, Jay County, Indiana (see figure). CMV 1 was approaching an eastbound 2019 International LT625 truck-tractor in combination with a 2024 Wilcox 53-foot-long bottom dump semitrailer (CMV 2), operated by PFI Trucking LLC and occupied by a 44-year-old male driver. CMV 2 had stopped behind an eastbound minivan that was waiting to turn left onto County Road N550E (CR 550E). At the same time, a 2011 Chevrolet Express 3500 passenger van, occupied by a 55-year-old male driver and six passengers, was traveling west and approaching the intersection with CR 550E. As CMV 1 approached the rear of CMV 2, the driver of CMV 1 swerved left and crossed the broken yellow centerline into the westbound lane, where it collided head-on with the passenger van, west of the intersection with CR 550E. After impact, the passenger van was redirected in a southeasterly direction and collided with the front of CMV 2 before coming to rest. The minivan, which was driven away before the passenger van came to rest, was not involved in the crash.
At this location, SR 67 is an undivided two-lane asphalt concrete roadway with one lane for each direction of travel. The two lanes were separated by a broken yellow centerline supplemented with two-way yellow retroreflective pavement markers. The posted speed limit at the crash location was 55 mph. The weather was clear, the roadway was dry, and daylight conditions were present.
As a result of the crash, four passengers in the passenger van were fatally injured; three were ejected. The passenger van driver and two passengers sustained injuries and were transported to area hospitals. The two combination vehicle drivers were not injured.
Parties to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation include:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Indiana State Police
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar events.
