Winter Weather — Hamilton, Indiana

2009-02-03 · Hamilton, Indiana

Event narrative

A ten-car pile-up at mile marker 8.5 occurred at approximately 0950 EST near Fishers, IN. Extremely low visibility (less than 50 yards according to an eyewitness), slick roads, and drivers going too fast for the conditions were cited as causes. Two died in a semi-trailer on their way to a worksite. A third was critically injured and later died at the hospital. The number of overall injuries is unclear due to sketchy information and multiple crashes occurring on the same road in two different counties.

Wider weather episode

A brief, intense snowstorm struck the Indianapolis area on the 3rd. The rapidly intensifying storm dumped approximately 2 to 4 inches of snow in about an hour during the morning. Snowfall of 2 inches from 0700 to 0800 EST and a storm total of 3.8 inches by 1100 at the Indianapolis National Weather Service office had significant traffic impact during and after morning commute. Two multi-vehicle accidents occurred on Interstate 69 just northeast of Indianapolis, resulting in road closure, 3 deaths and numerous injuries. The number of injuries is unclear.

The first accident was a ten-car pile-up at mile marker 8.5 at approximately 0950 EST near Fishers, IN and the second accident was a 50-car pile-up at mile marker 19 at approximately 1030 EST near Pendleton, IN. The number of vehicles involved is a rough estimate due to varying reports.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 156996. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.