Marijuana found near fatal I-65 crash

A West Lafayette man is dead after colliding with a semi on Interstate 65 in Tippecanoe County.

The crash happened just before 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday between State Roads 26 and 38.

Police said a Nissan driven by Nicholas Kibby, 22, was headed south on I-65, when it somehow crossed the median and headed into the path of a north-bound semi.

The semi went off to the shoulder, through a highway fence and into a field.

The Nissan was smashed into pieces, and Kibby was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers found $20 bills flying in the air.

Police said officers treated the money as part of the scene.

“It appears that it has come out of the Nissan and we are collecting that now the best that we can,” said Indiana State Police Sergeant Rich Kelly. “But its really not an issue just paper and part of the crash as far as we're concerned.”

Sergeant Kim Riley says officers collected a "large sum of money."

As of mid-afternoon Thursday, police still did not know how much cash had been found at the site.  The cash was wet, and had been coated in diesel fuel. Police were waiting for the money to dry before counting it.

Police said a small amount of marijuana was also found in the wreckage. 

Due to the large amount of money and the presence of marijuana at the scene, the crash investigation has been turned over to the Tippecanoe County Drug Task Force.

The semi driver, Melvin Doxy, 43, of Illinois suffered back and neck injuries and was taken to Clarian Arnett Hospital.

A motorcyclist from Michigan who was traveling behind the semi was also injured when a piece of debris from the crash hit her.  She was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The crash is still under investigation.

The Interstate was partially shut down for more than three hours, but it has since re-opened.