1 dead, 1 arrested after semi slams into stopped traffic on I-65S in Clarksville following police chase

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- A Charlestown man has been arrested after crashing into a UPS tractor-trailer, resulting in the death of the UPS driver on Tuesday.

The crash happened in the southbound lanes of Interstate 65 near Lewis and Clark Parkway in Clarksville.

The driver has not yet been identified, but UPS spokesperson Laura Holmberg released the following written statement after the crash:

"We are aware of a fatal accident on I-65 involving two UPS tractor-trailers and are deeply saddened to confirm a UPS driver has died. We offer our deepest condolences to his family at this difficult time, and our thoughts remain with all those involved. We are working with authorities as they investigate the accident."

According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls, the crash happened after a previous collision caused a traffic backup.

Huls said shortly after midnight Scott County deputies began pursuing a speeding driver, 27-year-old Dylin Lee Taylor, who was traveling up to 120 miles per hour on the interstate. ISP set up stop sticks in Clark County but said the suspect's vehicle continued around 80 to 90 miles per hour and eventually crashed into an ISP trooper's car.

Huls said the trooper was treated at the hospital for a head injury and has been released.

According to Huls, Taylor ran away on foot but was caught and taken into custody. He's now being held at the Clark County Jail.

While traffic was stopped because of the wreck, a tractor-trailer crashed into another stopped semi and burst into flames, Huls said. He said there were multiple semis stopped.

"Three semi-trucks were stopped in that backup. A fourth semi-truck apparently did not see the stopped traffic, continued south and collided into the rear of that third semi-truck. That driver was pronounced dead at the scene. That vehicle actually became engulfed," said Huls.

That driver has not been identified, but again, UPS confirmed the victim was an employee, and that another semi involved was also a UPS vehicle.

Huls said there was also a driver in the sleeper cab of the semi.

"He was also injured and taken to University Hospital. He's expected to be ok but did receive severe injuries. But he's currently there at University Hospital," Huls said.

All lanes of the interstate near Lewis and Clark Parkway were shut down for several hours for reconstruction. The northbound lanes reopened around 6 a.m., and the southbound lanes reopened a little after 12:30 p.m.

"[This] could have all been avoided if somebody had just initially stopped in Scott County and not fled from the police," said Huls.

Huls said Tuesday morning he did not yet have information on what first led to the initial pursuit in Scott County.

Taylor was arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in injury, resisting law enforcement causing serious injury, resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, driving while suspending causing injury, criminal recklessness with a vehicle and reckless driving causing injury. He is being held at Clark County Jail.

This story will be updated when more details become available.