SHIPSHEWANA – The Indiana State Police Toll Road Post is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred last night on the I-90 Toll Road, claiming the life of a Florida man.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m., the troopers from the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post were dispatched to a reported two-vehicle collision eastbound on I-90 near the 111.2 -mile marker, in LaGrange County. On scene, troopers located a rear-end collision between a passenger car and a transport van, with an unresponsive injured male laying on the roadway. Despite all lifesaving measures attempted by LaGrange County EMS personnel, the male victim (identified as Kubanychbek Abdyrakhmanov, 41, of Coral Springs, Florida) was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaGrange County Coroner.
Trooper Garrett Tharp’s preliminary investigation has revealed that the crash scene developed after Abdyrakhmanov’s black 2020 Lexus 460 passenger car struck a deer on the roadway in the left lane. After that initial collision, Abdyrakhmanov stopped his vehicle (in the left lane of the roadway) and got out to inspect the damage. Stopping in the roadway caused a chain reaction of multiple vehicles taking evasive action to avoid Abdyrakhmanov’s vehicle. A blue 2014 Ford Transit van, driven by Peter Flores, 26, of Toledo, Ohio, was unable to get stopped and crashed into the rear of the Lexus at high speed. As a result of that rear-end collision, Abdyrakhmanov was run over by his own vehicle while standing in the roadway, resulting in his fatal injuries.
Flores and his two passengers were properly restrained and uninjured in the crash. Neither alcohol nor drugs were suspected as contributing, however, Flores was transported to the LaGrange Parkview hospital where he submitted to chemical testing as required by law for drivers involved in fatal or serious bodily injury crashes.
A passenger in Abdyrakhmanov’s vehicle was uninjured. Family notifications have been made.
The eastbound lanes of the Toll Road were shut down for several hours while the investigation and cleanup ensued.
Trooper Tharp was assisted at the scene by several troopers from the Toll Road, Bremen, and Fort Wayne Post(s), as well as the Lagrange County SD, LaGrange PD, LaGrange County Fire, Parkview EMS, the LaGrange County Coroner, Tom’s Towing, and IMR personnel (Toll Road Maintenance).
The unfortunate and avoidable circumstances of this fatal crash should serve as a constant reminder for all motorists that become involved in a crash:
- If the vehicle(s) involved are drivable, NEVER stop in the lane of travel.
- Vehicle(s) should be moved over to the shoulder or onto the grass median as soon as possible to avoid secondary collisions. This is especially important on a highspeed interstate, and especially at night when visibility for other motorists is already limited.
- If the vehicles are disabled in the roadway, drivers and passengers should not exit their vehicles, especially on a highspeed roadway such as an interstate. In most cases, it is by far safer to remain inside and buckled up until first responders arrive.
