Newton County, Indiana — A crash involving a pickup truck and a semi tractor/trailer on Interstate 65 Friday evening left one person dead and resulted in multiple felony charges for the driver, according to Indiana State Police.
Troopers responded at approximately 6:51 p.m. to the southbound lanes of I-65 near the 232.8 mile marker, about 2.8 miles north of the State Road 10 exit. The crash involved a GMC Sierra and a semi tractor/trailer that was parked on the outside shoulder for an unknown reason.
Preliminary investigation by Senior Trooper Kyle Glaze determined the GMC Sierra struck the rear driver’s side of the semi trailer.
The driver of the GMC, identified as Garret Markovich, 39, of Cedar Lake, was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the pickup was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Newton County Coroner’s Office. The identity of the passenger has not yet been released.
The driver of the semi was not injured.
During the investigation, Trooper Spencer Hathaway developed probable cause to believe Markovich was operating the vehicle while intoxicated. He consented to a chemical test under Indiana’s implied consent law and was later taken into custody.
Markovich was booked into the Newton County Jail on the following preliminary charges:
- Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death (Level 4 Felony)
- Reckless Homicide (Level 5 Felony)
- Criminal Recklessness Resulting in Death (Level 5 Felony)
- Operating While Intoxicated Endangerment (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Operating While Intoxicated (Class C Misdemeanor)
Per protocol following a fatal crash, the semi driver was also required to undergo chemical testing. Results from both tests are pending.
Southbound I-65 was shut down for approximately three hours while emergency crews investigated the scene.
The crash remains under investigation. Indiana State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dash camera footage to contact Senior Trooper Glaze at 219-696-6242.