Gary, IN – A driver died Friday morning after crashing into an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Hoosier Helper vehicle on I-80/94 eastbound. The crash happened at 7:00 a.m. at mile-marker 7.7 while the Hoosier Helper assisted a stranded motorist with a flat tire. The vehicle had all its emergency lights activated.
A red 2008 Ford pickup veered off the roadway and rear-ended the stopped Hoosier Helper at high speed. The crash caused severe damage, trapping the Ford’s driver inside. Troopers arrived and attempted life-saving measures but found no pulse. The Lake County Coroner declared the driver dead at the scene.
The Hoosier Helper and the stranded motorist’s occupants escaped serious injuries. Investigators suspect driver impairment played a role in the crash. The Lake County Coroner will release the driver’s identity after notifying the family. Toxicology results are pending.
