Gary, Indiana – A crash in Gary injured an off-duty officer and his family Thursday evening, prompting an ongoing investigation.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched just after 6 p.m. Thursday, February 19, to the intersection of West Ridge Road and Hendricks Place for reports of a crash involving injuries.
A preliminary investigation found the driver of a Gary Police Department SUV was traveling westbound on Ridge Road when a semi tractor-trailer allegedly made an improper turn in front of the SUV while entering a parking lot. The vehicles collided, leaving all occupants of the SUV injured.
Authorities said a 27-year-old Gary police officer and his 3-year-old daughter were treated for facial injuries. The officer’s 4-year-old daughter was transported to a Chicago hospital with eye injuries. A 23-year-old woman who was seated in the front passenger seat was also taken to a Chicago hospital with injuries including a broken knee.
The driver of the semi, identified as a 41-year-old Hammond man, was not injured. He was cited for allegedly making an improper turn, according to the sheriff’s department.
Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. extended well wishes for the family’s recovery and said the investigation remains ongoing.
The intersection near Ridge Road is a common evening travel route for local commuters and families in western Gary.
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