GARY, Ind. – One person died Friday morning after a pickup truck crashed into an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Hoosier Helper vehicle. The incident occurred on eastbound I-80/94.
According to the Indiana State Police, the Hoosier Helper vehicle was assisting a driver with a flat tire on the right shoulder at the 7.7 mile-marker around 7 a.m. The Hoosier Helper had its rear-facing emergency lights activated at the time.
A red 2008 Ford pickup truck then rear-ended the parked Hoosier Helper vehicle. Investigators described the damage to the pickup truck as “catastrophic,” and the driver was trapped inside.
Upon arrival, troopers attempted to provide aid to the pickup truck driver, but could not find a pulse. The Lake County Coroner was called to the scene, and the driver was pronounced dead. The identity of the deceased has not been released.
Officials reported that the Hoosier Helper operator and the occupants of the disabled vehicle were not seriously injured. Evidence gathered at the scene suggests that driver impairment was a factor in the crash.
