INDIANAPOLIS — As the investigation continues into a crash that killed a 7-year-old girl on Interstate 70 Thursday night, state police are urging drivers to slow down and move over.
Investigators with Indiana State Police believe a van carrying two adults and three children became disabled in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70, just west of the South Split, around 8:30 p.m. on June 27. The van's driver may have stopped because of a flat tire, and police say the left shoulder at that section of interstate is not wide enough to safely pull over.
A semi tractor-trailer struck the back of the stopped van, seriously injuring all five occupants. Seven-year-old Genesis Reyes was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but she later died from her injuries.
"We are going to mourn the loss of this child, but it was a preventable crash, something that shouldn't have happened and it could have been avoided," ISP Sgt. John Perrine said.
State police say they see crashes like this far too often.
"The bigger picture is this, if you break down on the side of the road, even if you think you are in a safe location, you are putting a lot of trust in thousands of drivers driving past you," Perrine said.
So what should you do if your car breaks down in an interstate lane? Police say to turn your flashers on, try to drive to a safer area like a bigger shoulder or exit ramp and call 911.
Indiana does have a slow down, move over law where drivers have to change lanes if there is a vehicle ahead with flashing lights on.