FORT WAYNE – The Fort Wayne Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a man identified as a possible suspect in fraud involving the use of a stolen credit card.Interstate 69 has been reopened in Grant County after a three-vehicle crash killed one person, state police said.
James Ilari, 48, of Louisville, KY, was driving a 2000 Freightliner tractor-trailer rig, pulling a box trailer, southbound on I-69 near mile marker 58 about 3:15 p.m. The rig was being followed by a 2003 Buick LeSabre, police said.
The Freightliner and the Buick were slowing down because of heavy traffic from an approaching work zone. A southbound 2007 Freightliner box truck, driven by Brad Anderson, 40, of Danville, Ind., rear-ended the Buick pushing it into the back of the other rig. The crash impact ignited a fire which engulfed the Buick and the cab of the box truck, police said.
After Upland firefighters extinguished the flames, one person was found dead in the Buick. Anderson was transported by ambulance to Marion General Hospital with burns to his arms and legs. He was later airlifted to Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis. Anderson was helped from his burning vehicle by passersby who cut off his seat belt and assisted him from the truck. Illari was not injured, police said.
The deceased person has not been positively identified, police said.
