GARY, Ind. – One person died Friday morning after their pickup truck crashed into an INDOT Hoosier Helper vehicle. According to the Indiana State Police, the incident occurred around 7 a.m. on I-80/94 eastbound, near the 7.7-mile marker. The INDOT Hoosier Helper vehicle had stopped on the right shoulder to assist a driver changing a flat tire.
The Hoosier Helper vehicle’s rear-facing emergency lights were activated at the time of the crash. However, a red 2008 Ford pickup truck rear-ended the parked vehicle, causing extensive damage. Investigators reported that the pickup truck’s driver was trapped inside.
Trooprers responded to the scene and attempted to aid the driver of the pickup truck, but were unable to find a pulse. The Lake County Coroner was called to the scene where the driver was pronounced dead. The identity of the driver has not yet been released.
Officials reported that the Hoosier Helper operator and the occupants of the disabled vehicle were not seriously injured. Investigators believe that driver impairment was a factor in the crash based on the evidence collected at the scene.
