Troopers Investigating Fatal Crash Involving Two Semis in Delaware County

(Delaware County)  Troopers from the Indiana State Pendleton District are investigating a fatal crash involving two semis that caused the interstate to be closed for several hours.

On June 17, 2023, at approximately 5:16 p.m., Delaware County Dispatch received a report of a crash near the 250 mile marker of Interstate 69 near the rest park and contacted the Indiana State Police for assistance.  

When Trooper Hanna McClure arrived she found a heavily damaged Red Freightliner semi tractor-trailer had rear ended another Freightliner semi tractor-trailer stopped in traffic.  The driver of the damaged Freightliner, identified as Darrell Charles Kositzke, 65, of Michigan was entrapped in the wreckage, unconscious and unresponsive. Kositzke was pronounced dead at the scene by the Delaware County Coroner. The driver of the other semi tractor-trailer, identified as Clyde Scott Jackson, 58, of Michigan was transported to IU Ball Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.  Kositzke's family has been notified.

Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionists responded to the scene to investigate. Preliminarily, investigation revealed the semi tractor-trailer driven by Jackson slowed and stopped due to a backup caused by construction and was rear ended by the other Freightliner driven by Kositske.  It is believed that Kositzke was distracted at the time of the crash.  Northbound lanes of Interstate 69 were closed and traffic was re-routed into the northbound rest park while the crash was investigated and the wreckage was removed. 

Trooper Hanna McClure was assisted by Alexandria Fire Department, Gaston Fire Department, Gaston EMS, Delaware County EMA, Delaware County Sheriff's Department and Northwest Towing.

This investigation is still ongoing and there is no further information to be released at this time.

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