HAMILTON COUNTY — A serious traffic collision early Thursday morning led to major disruptions along U.S. 31 in northern Hamilton County, shutting down the highway in one direction and limiting traffic flow in the other. Authorities confirmed that the crash, which occurred near the Hamilton–Tipton county line, resulted in one fatality and prompted an extensive emergency response.
The incident was first reported shortly before 4:45 a.m., when dispatchers received word of a crash on U.S. 31 between 246th Street and 256th Street. The area lies just north of Westfield and close to the border separating Hamilton and Tipton counties, making it a busy commuter corridor during the early morning hours. The Indiana Department of Transportation, relaying information from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that one person died as a result of the collision. No additional details about the victim or the circumstances of the crash had been released at the time of the report.
Due to the severity of the wreck, authorities closed the southbound lanes of U.S. 31, diverting traffic to surrounding roadways. Drivers heading south were directed onto State Road 28, then advised to travel east toward SR-19 in Tipton before connecting to 236th Street to return to the southbound lanes of U.S. 31. This detour was put in place to help manage the flow of vehicles and ensure that emergency crews had room to work safely at the crash site.
The northbound side of the highway was also affected. Although it was not fully shut down, officials closed one northbound lane as investigators and cleanup teams worked to assess the scene. The reduced capacity caused slowdowns for drivers heading toward Westfield and points farther south. By 7 a.m., crews indicated that the restricted northbound lane was expected to reopen within the hour, helping to partially restore normal traffic patterns during the busy morning commute.
However, there was no clear estimate on when southbound lanes might reopen. Because the crash involved a fatality, a thorough investigation was required, and cleanup efforts were expected to take additional time. State and local authorities remained on the scene through the morning, documenting the incident, clearing debris, and ensuring the roadway could safely accommodate vehicles once reopened.
The crash location, just north of downtown Westfield, is a highly traveled stretch of U.S. 31, linking several communities in central Indiana. The early hour of the collision meant that emergency responders moved quickly to secure the area before peak traffic volumes increased. Motorists in the region were urged to plan alternate routes, follow posted detours, and use caution due to the heavy presence of law enforcement and roadway workers.
Officials noted that this is an active and developing situation, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash, the number of vehicles involved, and additional details surrounding the events leading up to the fatality. As of now, the focus remains on completing the investigation and restoring full access to U.S. 31 as soon as it is safe to do so.
More details are expected to be released later in the day once authorities have concluded their on-site work and gathered additional information about the victim and the circumstances of the collision.
