News Release
LAKE COUNTY — Indiana State Police said a motorist who had been passing traffic on the shoulder of I-80 collided with a disabled truck Wednesday morning.
The accident happened at 7:40 a.m., in the westbound lanes near Burr Street in Lake County.
A preliminary investigation indicates a GMC Yukon was traveling on the right shoulder while passing other vehicles.
At the same time, a disabled Freightliner tractor pulling a loaded trailer was parked on the right shoulder due to a mechanical failure. The semi was unable to move and had emergency warning triangles properly deployed behind the trailer.
For reasons still under investigation, the Yukon struck the rear of the parked trailer at a high rate of speed, trapping the driver inside the vehicle. The Gary Fire Department extricated the driver after an extended rescue effort.
The driver sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported by a medical helicopter to the University of Chicago Hospital for treatment.
Interstate 80 westbound was closed for just over one hour to allow for the helicopter landing and crash investigation.
State Police say the crash serves as an important reminder that the shoulder is intended for emergency use only.
Disabled vehicles are often stopped on the shoulder, and using it as a travel lane significantly increases the risk of serious crashes. This crash remains under investigation.
