Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, May 5, 2015
(LAKE CO.) - Sunday morning at approximately 12:21 a.m., Indiana State Police officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-80 near the 1.7 mile marker, in which four people were injured.
According to police, 34-year-old Jocelyn Conwell of Gary was driving a 2001 Ford Taurus eastbound on I-80 near the 1.7 mile marker. Conwell slowed down for traffic that was stopping in front of her. The Ford was rear-ended by a 1998 GMC Jimmy driven by 32-year-old Frank Itczak Jr of Gary.
The damage to the Ford was so severe that 2-year-old Jacob Jafilan and 9-year-old Jase Statem, both from Gary, were trapped in the backseat. The boys had to be freed from the vehicle by firefighters from the Gary Fire Department.
Conwell was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with a possible collapsed lung.
Jafilan was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with a severe head injury. He was later flown by helicopter to a Chicago area hospital.
Statem was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with a deep cut to his head.
9-month-old Namiko Conwell, of Gary, another passenger in the Ford, was transported to a local hospital with unspecified injuries. Itczak was not injured.
As officers were conducting the crash investigation, Itczak ran from the crash scene. He was quickly captured by troopers.
Police determined that Itczak's blood alcohol concentration was allegedly over the .08 limit in which a driver is considered intoxicated in Indiana.
He was incarcerated in the Lake County Jail to face a felony count for operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury.
All participants in the crash were properly restrained with seat belts or a child safety seat.
This crash is still under investigation.
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