One man was airlifted to the hospital after a semi collided with a pickup truck pulling an animal trailer at U.S. 31 and U.S. 6 in LaPaz.

The accident happened around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, closing the busy intersection and backing up traffic.

"I was actually here close to the intersection and heard the crash," said Capt. Mathew Haskins from the LaPaz North Township fire department. "I looked over and could see some smoke, could see the semi that was jack-knifed."

The driver of the pick-up truck, 82-year-old Leroy Piper, was trapped inside the vehicle. Rescue crews had to remove the top of the truck and extricate Piper. He uffered injuries to his head and arms, but is listed in stable condition.

“He was still conscious and talking when he got in the helicopter,” Haskins said.

The driver of the semi-truck, 60-year-old John Drummond, did not suffer any injuries in the crash.

It appears as though Piper ran a red light at the intersection, according to Indiana State Police.

Traffic was diverted for hours as crews worked to clear the vehicles and debris. A fuel spill in connection with the crash required extra clean-up.