A 15-year-old Columbus teen was killed in an early morning accident in the southbound lanes of I-65 near Columbus Saturday.
The Bartholomew County Coroner’s office has identified the teen as Ethan Kuniewicz, 15, Columbus.
Deputies were sent to the 73.5 mile marker of the southbound lanes of the interstate at 5:20 a.m. Saturday about the accident. Deputies located the deceased 15-year-old male who appeared to have been struck by a semi. The location is about three miles south of the Taylorsville/Edinburgh exit.
After talking to witnesses, deputies said they believed the 15-year-old male was diving north in a red Honda Odyssey on I-65 and ran off the roadway into the median. It appears, then, for an unknown reason, the teen attempted to cross southbound traffic on foot where he was then struck by a southbound semi.
Indiana State Police and sheriff deputies are doing accident reconstruction of the scene. I-65 was shut down for about three hours following the accident.
Kuniewicz was listed as finishing his freshman year at Columbus North High School and was active in youth hockey in Columbus.
The sheriff’s department, coroner’s office and Indiana State Police said the incident is still under investigation.
“This event is truly a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families involved. The sheriff’s office will continue to investigate this incident to get all the answers possible,” said Sheriff Matt Myers.
