INDIANAPOLIS — Two people are dead after two separate crashes on Interstate 465, just 24 hours and 19 miles apart.
Both crashes involved a vehicle hitting someone along the highway.
The first crash happened on I-465 north early Sunday morning, near the 17.6 mile marker. That's when Indiana State Police say a man was trying to cross the interstate when he was hit and killed by a vehicle.
Police don't know why 32-year-old Tyler Stephenson was trying to cross the highway, but say they found no evidence of a broken-down vehicle nearby.
The driver who hit him crashed into the median wall, but only had minor injuries.
Twenty-four hours later, there was a second fatal crash. This one happened early Monday morning, this time on the ramp from I-465 west to Allisonville Road.
"Just a really unfortunate chain of events that led to this fatality," said Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine.
That chain of events started, say police, when a semi lost its right front wheel and tire as it was heading west and approaching Allisonville Road.
Indiana State Police say the driver of the semi pulled off onto the shoulder and got out, possibly to check the damage.
"Another vehicle came along and actually struck that wheel. The wheel became lodged under that car and directed the car toward the person that was standing outside of the semi, unfortunately that person was struck by that car," Perrine said.
Despite emergency crews trying to save that person's life, the driver died.
At this point, Indiana State Police have not yet released the victim's name.
Both crashes, say police, are a reminder of how dangerous it is for a person to be along the interstate with traffic moving past.
"If you find yourself in that dangerous situation, there are things you can do to increase your safety and one of those is to stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on," said Perrine.
Indiana State Police do not believe impaired driving was a factor in either crash.
With the upcoming busy travel week and Thanksgiving ahead, Indiana State Police say if your vehicle does break down alongside the interstate, the safest thing to do is to stay inside your vehicle while you call for help.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The name of the victim in the second incident was not released at the time this article was published.)