Lake County-Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Brian McCall responded to a crash on north bound I-65 just south of 61st Avenue (Merrillville/Hobart exit) this afternoon, at approximately 4:15 p.m., where strong winds blew a semi-tractor and its trailer over onto its side.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a  2011 Freightliner semi pulling an empty box trailer, driven by Bradley C. Brooks, 24 of Miamisburg, Ohio, was stopped/slowed in the middle lane of northbound I-65 because of the torrential rain the area was receiving at the time.  Traffic had slowed/stopped because of the low visibility that the rains and high winds had created.  A strong wind blew the semi and its trailer onto its right side into the right lane.  The wind then pushed the semi and trailer into the far right exit lane for 61st Avenue where it struck a van.  There was very minor damage to the van.  Brooks was not injured.

The 2011 Freightliner was owned by US Express out of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  It was coming from Dayton, Ohio going to Joliet, Illinois.  The far right exit lane and right lane where closed for up-righting of the semi and trailer.  All lanes are now opened.

Agencies assisting:  Trooper Tim Grayson with the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Trooper Khari Walton and Indiana Department of Transportation Hoosier Helpers.