Porter County- On 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 S.R 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.
Preliminary investigation shows that the SUV, a 2015 Toyota Rav4, was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed in the far-left lane. For unknown reasons, the SUV changed lanes all the way to the far-right lane. At the same time, a semi that had been parked on the right shoulder of the highway, was merging back into the right lane at a reduced speed when the SUV rear-ended the trailer of the semi-truck.
Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction responded to the scene and is assisting in this investigation as well as the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. For information on the deceased, please contact the Porter County Coroner’s Office. The driver of the semi was not injured.
Assisting at the scene were the following: Pine Twp. Fire, Porter County EMS, Porter County Coroner, and Joe’s Towing.