COLUMBUS, Ind. – UPDATE: The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office has identified the driver who died Saturday in a fiery crash on I-65, south of State Road 46 in Columbus. Coroner Clayton Nolting said that dental records were used to identify Kayze Danielle Gilstrap, 25, of Bedford. Gilstrap was one of the registered owners of the 2008 Pontiac that was reportedly backing up in the left lane of northbound I-65 prior to the crash. The crash is being investigated by the Columbus Police Department.
Original: The Columbus Police Department (CPD) is investigating a fatal two-vehicle accident that occurred Saturday on Interstate 65. At about 4:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to northbound I-65, at the 67-mile marker, in regards to a crash and a vehicle on fire.
Police say witnesses told them the driver of a 2008 Pontiac, traveling south in the left northbound lane, seemed to be trying to back up toward a cross over when it was struck by a 2019 Honda Pilot, which was traveling north in the left lane. The collision caused the Pontiac to become engulfed in flames. The Columbus Fire Department extinguished the blaze.
The driver of the Honda Pilot, Vanessa Rosborough, 31, of Indianapolis, was transported to Columbus Regional Health for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Rosborough’s passenger, Emily McNiff, 28, of Fishers, was life-lined to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Her condition is not available.
The driver of the Pontiac was pronounced deceased at the scene. Positive identification of the driver is pending. The crash remains under investigation by CPD accident reconstructionists.
The northbound lanes of Interstate 65 were closed, from the 64-68 mile markers, for 3.5 hours.
