Hammond - Saturday morning at approximately 4:00 a.m., Troopers from the Lowell Post were dispatched to I-80/94 eastbound lanes at the 3.1 mile-marker for a multi-vehicle crash that involved injuries. This location is near the Kennedy Ave. exit.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Jordin Rosillo and Trooper Kevin Council showed that a black Nissan Versa struck an arrow-board sign that was on the right shoulder which was warning traffic of an approaching lane shift. This crash resulted in the arrow-board landing in the travel portion of the roadway. Two secondary crashes then occurred as those drivers were attempting to avoid the debris in the roadway from the original crash. As a result, the driver of one of the vehicles was pinned in their van, had to be extricated, and then air-lifted to Chicago for treatment of potential life-threatening injuries. A second driver, that was operating a black GMC pickup, was also later air-lifted to Oak Lawn for treatment of serious injuries. The third driver received minor injuries.
The original driver in the crash that struck the sign, Rivianna Gilmore, 33, from Calumet Park, IL, showed signs of impairment at the scene and an O.W.I. was initiated by Trp. Kevin Council. During the investigation, the driver consented to a blood draw at a local hospital. The results of that test are pending analysis by the Indiana Department of Toxicology. After being cleared at the hospital, Ms. Gilmore was transported to the Lake County Jail where she is preliminarily charged with the following offenses:
- Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Injury- Level 5 Felony
- Operating While Intoxicated Endangering- Class A Misdemeanor
- Operating While Intoxicated- Class C Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana- Class B Misdemeanor
Additional charges may be filed later by the Lake County Prosecutor at the conclusion of the crash investigation. All suspects are presumed to be innocent until/unless proven guilty in court.
The interstate lanes were closed for several hours for crash scene reconstruction and the removal of the vehicles and debris.