Gary, Lake County-A trooper was injured this evening when his police car was rear ended on I-80 east bound at the 10.9 mile marker (this is east of Broadway and west of the I-65 exit) while he was blocking the left lane for an earlier crash.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Josh Roa, revealed at approximately 6:09 p.m., a 2009 Hummer H3, driven by Kenneth J. Schiffer, 79 of Three Oaks, Michigan, was east bound in the left when he stated he saw lights up ahead. As Schiffer got closer he noticed the lights getting closer and then just hit the back of the police car. Trooper Davonne Barlow, age 29, a 4 ½ year veteran of the department, driving a 2011 fully marked Dodge Charger police car, had covered a two vehicle crash earlier at I-80 eastbound at the 10.8 mile marker. Barlow had the driver of one of those vehicles, Robert Spurr, 59 of Valparaiso, sitting in his rear seat as Spurr’s vehicle was being towed away. Barlow was blocking the left lane for the tow truck to remove the vehicle when his police car was struck in the rear. All of Barlow’s emergency’s lights were activated at the time of the crash.
Barlow and Spurr were taken to Northlake Methodist Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The left lane was closed for removal of the injured and towing of the police car.
Weather conditions were wet and raining.
Assisting: Trooper Kenneth Watkins, Sergeant Dan Leslie, First Sergeant Terrance Weems, Indiana Department of Transportation Hoosier Helpers, EMS and Waffco Towing
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