Preliminary investigation by Trooper Justin Heflin shows that a white bobtail tractor was westbound on I-94 at the 18.8 mile-marker. This is just west of the S.R. 249 exit in Portage, IN.
The investigation shows that for an unknown reason, the truck left the roadway, striking a guardrail face prior to impacting a tree. The vehicle came to rest in the north ditch.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders observed the driver trapped inside of the cab of the truck. The driver was unresponsive and declared deceased by the Porter County Coroner, as a result of blunt force trauma sustained in the crash. The driver had not been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
The driver has been identified as Paul James Crosby, 30 years of age, from Lansing, MI. The truck was a 2010 Freightliner registered to Kenneth & Phyllis McClure Leasing located in Dewitt, MI. It was being operated by Rush Trucking located in Wayne, MI. The family of the deceased has been notified.
Assisting at the scene was Precision Towing, Portage Fire/EMS, ISP Reconstruction, Porter County Hazmat, Porter County Coroner and INDOT. 