Gary, Lake County-A fiery crash on I-80/94 east bound at the 7.7 mile marker (this is approximately 1 ½ miles east of Burr Street) this morning, resulted in one death.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Carson House revealed, at approximately 1:09 a.m., this Friday, October 30, 2015, morning, witnesses stated a Ford SUV was east bound at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of traffic in the two left lanes, when for unknown reasons it drove off the roadway and hit an abandoned/disabled (unoccupied) passenger vehicle on the inner shoulder.
The abandoned/disabled passenger vehicle caught on fire after being hit in the rear. The Ford SUV went airborne after striking the abandoned/disabled vehicle and then rolled several times before coming to rest upright in the right middle lane. The Ford SUV also caught fire shortly thereafter. Several people who stopped after the crash tried to extricate the driver of the SUV but were unsuccessful. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene by a representative with the Lake County Coroner’s office.
All lanes east bound were closed until approximately 4:00 a.m., when the outer shoulder and far right lane were reopened. Lanes were closed for reconstruction of the crash, removal of the deceased and vehicles, and clean-up of the roadway. Traffic earlier was detoured off east bound at Burr Street.
All lanes are opened.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of the family.
UPDATE: Deceased has been identified as Nickolas A. Alderfer, 25 of Hebron, Indiana
No other information is known on the vehicles as they were completely burnt.
Assisting: Sergeant Dan Leslie, Senior Trooper Lawrence McFarrin, Troopers Justin Hansen, William Stancy, Kurt Jones, Rogelio Escutia, Indiana Department of Transportation, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Samson Towing, Gary Fire and EMS.
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Wojas
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
