LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA — Three children were killed and one child and one adult were critically injured overnight after a Ford Explorer crashed into a semi-trailer on Interstate 65 in Northwest Indiana, according to Indiana State Police and the Hobart Fire Department.
The crash happened around midnight Friday in the southbound lanes of I-65, about one mile south of Ridge Road. Hobart firefighters said they responded to a serious crash involving a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck.
SUV Rear-Ended Semi Trailer at High Speed
Indiana State Police said a blue Ford Explorer was blocking the right two lanes when troopers arrived. Investigators said the Explorer had rear-ended a white semi-trailer at high speed.
The semi-truck was parked on the right shoulder at the time while the driver attended to a mechanical issue, according to state police.
Investigators believe the Explorer’s driver, a 31-year-old woman from Gary, may have fallen asleep while driving and left the roadway before striking the trailer. Police also said alcohol may have been a factor.
The Explorer was catastrophically damaged in the crash. The semi-trailer was also damaged.
Children Killed and Critically Injured
State police said four children were inside the Explorer. Three of them were killed.
A child in the front passenger seat was ejected from the vehicle. Two children seated in the second row were also killed.
The fourth child, who was seated in the middle seat of the third row, suffered extremely critical injuries and was flown by UCAN medical helicopter to the University of Chicago Medical Center with possibly life-threatening injuries.
The adult driver was critically injured and taken by ambulance to Franciscan Hospital in Crown Point for treatment.
State police said none of the children were properly restrained. Because the children’s ages have not been released, it was not immediately clear whether that meant they were not wearing seat belts or were not in required child safety seats.
Investigation and Charges Pending
The crash shut down lanes of I-65 for several hours while emergency crews, investigators, the reconstruction team, and the Lake County Coroner’s Office worked the scene.
Hobart fire officials said three people were confirmed dead at the scene, with two additional patients found critically injured.
Indiana State Police said charges against the driver are pending.
No names or additional information have been released at this time. Law enforcement has taken over the investigation and will provide further updates when available.
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