The Grant County Sheriff's Department and Indiana State Police at Redkey investigated a two-truck crash early today that closed Interstate 69 northbound for six hours.

The 5 a.m. crash was at the 59 1/2-mile marker, near the Gas City exit, state police said in a statement.

One northbound lane had reopened by late morning, and the second was open by early afternoon, police said.

They said a semi driven by Harold B. Hughes, 55, of Northwood, Ohio, had entered northbound I-69 from Indiana 22, the Gas City exit, and had merged into the driving lane.

Police said another semi driven by Filipp R. Pedashov, 29, of Apison, Tenn., also was northbound in the driving lane and struck the rear of Hughes' semi, catching fire.

They said they believe Pedashov was looking at his navigation system before the crash and became distracted.

Pedashov escaped the burning semi, and was later taken to Marion General Hospital in Marion with minor injuries, the police statement said. He was cited for an unsecured load and speed too fast to avoid a collision.

Partial contents of both semis were strewn onto I-69, and three vehicles traveling northbound were damaged after striking some of the debris, police said. They said no injuries were reported from those situations.

Both northbound lanes of I-69 were closed at the Gas City exit in Grant County for six hours while the crash debris and cargo were removed, police said. Northbound traffic was rerouted east on Indiana 22, north on Indiana 5 and west on Indiana 18 back to the interstate.

Grant County health and emergency management, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Upland Fire Department also assisted, police said.