Two people were killed in a crash Tuesday morning on I-65 in Jackson County. Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, says events unfolded shortly after 6:30 a.m. after a crash in the southbound lanes near mile marker 47 involving two tractor trailers. About a half-hour later, a second crash near mile marker 48 occurred. Investigators say that a car ran into the back of of a stopped semi, killing two Indianapolis residents.

ISP says the first crash happened when a semi driven by Donald W. Pickens, of Manchester, TN, rear-ended a flat-bed trailer, driven by Gordon A. Gorr, Jr., of Indianapolis. That crash led to partial blockage of the southbound lanes of I-65 for nearly four hours.

Investigators say the second crash occurred when a van, driven by 62-year-old Thomas L. Harding, was unable to stop for the slowed traffic. The van struck the rear of a box-trailer driven by 47-year-old Jacek Kamienski, of Burbank, IL.

Sgt. Wheeles says that the second crash resulted in the deaths of Harding and his front seat passenger, 59-year-old Joyce M. Harding. They were both pronounced dead at the scene by Jackson County Coroner Michael Bobb. A backseat passenger, 19-year-old Francisco J. Rodriguez, also of Indianapolis, was injured. He was transported to Schneck Medical Center, then flown to University of Louisville Hospital for serious injuries. His condition has not been released.

ISP says the investigation into the crash is ongoing.