Lake County- On Thursday, July 4th, from 10:00 pm until 4:00 am on July 5th, troopers assigned to the late shift at the Lowell Post conducted a traffic enforcement blitz on I-80/94 in Lake County. Troopers were focused on enforcing the work zone speed limit that is in effect eastbound as vehicles enter Indiana from Illinois. The posted work zone speed limit is 45 mph. Troopers on both day and late shifts have been taking an increased number of crashes in this area. A contributing factor in many of the crashes has been speeding.
In six hours of dedicated patrol, eight troopers made a total of 47 traffic stops which resulted in 18 criminal defendants (five felony arrests) and a total of 27 criminal charges. Of those arrested, four were for Operating While Intoxicated, one of the O.W.I. defendants had a child in the vehicle. 4 motorcyclists that were traveling together fled from the troopers as they attempted to stop them. 3 of the 4 motorcyclists were located and were subsequently arrested. Additionally, several other violators were charged with Reckless Driving due to their extreme high speeds in the construction zone. Speeders were being clocked from 80 to over 100 mph during the blitz.
It should be noted that during this entire blitz timeframe, the troopers didn’t encounter any motor vehicle crashes in the construction zone. Dedicated patrols along I-80/94 will continue as troopers are making an effort to reduce crashes and make our roads safer. The Indiana State Police reminds all drivers to be aware of posted speed limits at all times, but especially in work zones where there are often lane shifts, lane closures and workers present.