Crash involving sleepy driver closes SR 162

A section of State Road 162 north of Ferdinand was closed for about 45 minutes Monday morning after a sleepy driver drifted into the side of passing semi-tractor trailer.

According to deputies, Craig Long, 57, of Crestwood, Ky. was northbound in a 2013 Dodge Ram when he fell asleep. Deputies said his vehicle went more than five feet left of center before striking the side of a southbound 1998 International semi-tractor trailer driven by Dane Barber, 52, of Montgomery.

Barber told deputies he saw Long’s truck going left of center and attempted to avoid a collision but was unable to do so. Long’s vehicle swiped the side of the semi-tractor and then came to rest on the northbound shoulder. 

Barber was able to pull his vehicle to the southbound shoulder.   

Long was trapped in his vehicle and had to be extricated by St. Anthony First Responders. He was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in Jasper for treatment of his injuries. His injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.   

Barber reported that he was uninjured and refused treatment at the scene. 

State Road 162 was closed for about 45 minutes while the scene was cleared.   

The Ram was considered a total loss and the International had about $10,000 in damages, according to police.

The Dubois County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Ferdinand Police Department, St. Anthony First Responders, Memorial EMS, and Berg’s Garage on the scene.