Wreck sends driver and passenger to hospital, closes down lane of I-65

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - A wreck sent a driver and her passenger to the hospital and closed down a lane of I-65 Wednesday afternoon.

Indiana State Police on the scene say a passenger car driven by 37-year-old Tracy M. West of Hammond, Ind., was northbound on I-65 just north of the State Road 25 exit when the back-driver-side tire of the car blew.

Investigators say the car hit the retaining wall on the left side of the road and the force of the impact sent the car spinning 180 degrees, all the way back to the right side.

West was taken to St. Elizabeth Franciscan East Hospital with complaints of chest pains.

West's front-seat passenger was also sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Indiana State Police Trooper Weslee Ennis said their injuries could have been worse.

"Both were wearing seatbelts, which probably helped in reducing their injuries," Ennis said. "Without the seatbelt, they could have been tossed around inside the car and possibly ejected."

The right-hand lane of northbound I-65 was backed up roughly two miles and the lane was closed for cleanup.

The lane was back open at roughly 3:30 p.m.