"Indiana" thereafter withdrew to escort the carrier task force overnight. While operating off the islands in the early hours of 1 February, "Indiana" collided with "Washington". The ships were blacked out to prevent Japanese observers from spotting them, and in the darkness, "Indiana" turned in front of "Washington". "Indiana" was badly damaged, with the starboard propeller shaft destroyed and significant damaged inflicted on the belt armor and torpedo defense system. The ship had some of armor plating torn from her hull, and "Washington" had a section of her bow ripped away and lodged into "Indiana"s side. The accident killed three men and injured another six aboard "Indiana", one of whom later died. A subsequent inquiry into the accident placed the blame on "Indiana", faulting her crew for failing to inform the other ships in the unit about her course changes.