Two killed in fiery crash on I-70

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - Wayne County Sheriff Cappa has confirmed the death of two people involved in a fiery crash on Interstate 70 near Richmond.

Authorities in Wayne County say a medical helicopter was called to Interstate 70 near the 149 mile marker Sunday afternoon.

This is east of Centerville Road near Richmond.

Sheriff Cappa says preliminary information has revealed four people were traveling westbound on I-70. One passenger was using oxygen. It appears another passenger lit a cigarette and the car went up in flames.

The car then drove into the median.

Two people were killed in the crash. Ronnie Joe Pratt, 62, and Deborah L Pratt, 62, both of Indianapolis, died in the crash in Wayne County, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.

A witness who was following the vehicle that crashed said it began to drift to the left before there was an explosion inside of the vehicle. It then drove into the median and went on its side before stopping.

Although the witness tried to help the two victims, they didn’t survive.

A driver who came across the accident describes it as horrific.

"The car was completely engulfed in flames," said witness Lee Gastineau. "There was a young woman laying in the median and there were a few people that had stopped to try to put the car out and help the man that was driving the car calm down the woman."

The Indiana Department of Transportation reported all westbound lanes were closed due to the vehicle fire on the interstate around 3:20 p.m.

I-70 westbound lanes were shut down at the 149 mile marker. Only the right lane of eastbound lanes were open.