Lowell, IN – A driver died Saturday afternoon in a crash involving a Ford Explorer and a semi-truck on westbound I-80 near the 9.1-mile marker, just east of the Grant Street exit.
Trooper Regen Smith’s preliminary investigation revealed that a Volvo tractor-trailer, pulling double FedEx trailers, had been parked on the shoulder while the driver was outside inspecting an air leak between the trailers. At about 1:00 p.m., a Ford Explorer veered off the roadway and struck the rear trailer’s passenger side for unknown reasons.
The collision caused the semi’s rear trailer to lurch forward as the Ford continued off the roadway, eventually stopping in a ditch. The impact ejected the Ford’s driver from the vehicle. Emergency responders declared the driver deceased at the scene, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Officials will release the driver’s identity once family notifications are complete.
Responding to the incident, Gary Fire/EMS, WAFFCO Towing, and INDOT provided assistance at the scene. Authorities continue to investigate the crash to determine why the Ford left the roadway.
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