PORTER CO. – On Monday, March 4, 2024, at approximately 7:19 p.m., Indiana State Police Region One Dispatch sent troopers to an injury-involved crash at the 31.6-mile marker, eastbound lanes of I-94. This location is approximately five miles east of State Road 49.
Trooper Justin Baumeister responded and located a semi-truck in the right lane and an SUV with heavy damage in the ditch off the right shoulder. Trooper Baumeister was told that the driver of the SUV was unresponsive and needed medical assistance.
The driver, who was the only occupant of the SUV, was pinned in the vehicle. Trp. Baumeister attempted to render first aid; however, he was unable to locate a pulse. Paramedics and fire also arrived at the scene but were unable to revive the driver, and the Porter County Coroner was contacted.
A preliminary investigation shows that the 2015 Toyota Rav4 SUV was traveling eastbound at a high speed in the far-left lane. For unknown reasons, the SUV changed lanes to the far-right lane. At the same time, a semi parked on the highway’s right shoulder was merging back into the right lane at a reduced speed when the SUV rear-ended the semi-truck’s trailer.
Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction responded to the scene and assisted in this investigation and the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. The driver of the semi was not injured.
Pine Township Fire Department, Porter County EMS, Porter County Coroner, and Joe’s Towing assisted at the scene.
