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Last updated on Friday, June 26, 2009
Lake County-Indiana State Police Trooper Khari Walton responded to a three vehicle crash southbound on I-65 where five people died in a fiery crash.
(CROWN POINTE) - Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 4:02 a.m., this morning, a 1999 International semi-flat bed was south on I-65, in the right lane, at the 247.2 (this is at the Crown Point exit), when traffic slowed/stopped for a car being towed from the interstate from earlier police activity. The driver, identified as George A. Hack stated he felt something hit him from behind. He later realized it was a Dodge pick-up.
A 2004 Sterling semi with double box trailers was also in the right lane when he came over the hill crest at the Crown Point exit and realized traffic had slowed/stopped. The driver, Forest E. Stover, could not stop in time and hit the rear of the pick-up. This pushed the pick-up into the rear of the Hack's semi. The pick-up caught fire after impact then spreading to the Sterling (Stover's) semi.
All five people inside the pick-up died as a result, they were pronounced dead at the scene by someone from the Lake County Coroner's office. Stover was able to escape from his semi without injury.
Names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of the family.
All traffic south was closed and traffic was diverted off at the Crown Point exit and allowed to get back on from U.S. 231 to go back south.
Drivers and Vehicles:
1. 1999 International semi with flat bed trailer owned by South Hill Trucking out of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The semi was loaded with approximately 50,000 pounds of coil rod going to Indianapolis, Indiana from Saukville, Wisconsin. There was no loss of load.
+ Driver-George A. Hack, 46, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Hack was not injured.
2. 2004 Dodge pick-up. Vehicle was completely totaled.
+ The deceased are:
o Brian W. Workman, 33 of Hobart, Indiana. (Husband/father)
o Joanna L. Workman, 31 of Hobart. (Wife/mother)
o Ashley Workman, 13 of Hobart. (Daughter)
o Tyler Workman, 8 of Hobart. (Son)
o Ryan Workman, 1 of Hobart. (Son)
3. 2004 Sterling semi with double box trailers owned by Con-Way Central Express out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The semi was loaded with approximately 65,000 pounds of general freight going from Gary/Hammond to Dayton, Ohio. There was no load loss. The fire was contained to the semi tractor.
+ Driver-Forest E. Stover, 58, of Huber Heights, Ohio. Stover was not injured.
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