Indiana State Police are now shutting down the northbound lanes as well as the southbound lanes of Interstate 65 in Jackson County and evacuating nearby homes as a chemical spill in the area continues to escalate.

A crash and chemical spill happened early this morning in the southbound lanes about seven miles south of Seymour. Those lanes have been closed while crews worked to clean up chemicals spilling from one box truck.

But now state police say they are evacuating homes within a half mile of the crash site and say the scene is continuing to deteriorate and there is a danger of an explosion. .

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Polices ays the crash happened at about 4:30 this morning, when a semi rear-ended two other trucks which were stopped for a previous accident. That was about seven miles south of Seymour. One passenger was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

We will have more information as it becomes available.