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1 Dead In Series Of Crashes Involving 20 Vehicles On I-65

Updated 08/18/12 - 3:02 p.m.

ROSELAWN, Ind. (CBS) -- One person is dead and two others seriously injured, after three crashes on I-65 in Jasper County, Ind. early Saturday.

Around 7:15 a.m., there were three crashes on I-65 near mile marker 227, which is near Roselawn, Ind., according to Indiana State Police. One crash in the northbound lanes involved 12 different vehicles. There was one fatality and two serious injuries requiring the victims to be airlifted to area hospitals, police said.

At about the same time and location, there were also two crashes in the southbound lanes -- one involving six vehicles, the other involving two vehicles. There were no serious injuries in that crash.

The crashes forced officials to close I-65 between mile marker 220 and mile marker 230 for several hours after the crash. The southbound lanes were reopen by 10:45 a.m. Northbound lanes were reopened Saturday afternoon.

Police said it was possible the crashes were caused by low visibility due to smoke that was blowing across the Interstate from a nearby barn fire.

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