The Indiana State Police investigated a fatal crash on Friday, July 1st, 2016 at 9:30p.m. The crash occurred west bound on the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) just west of the Portage Toll Plaza (mile marker 23).
The crash involved a state police car and a BMW motorcycle which resulted in the death of the motorcyclist, Michael M. Damore, 28 of Highland.
Anyone who may have been traveling in this area and has information of this crash please call ISP Detective Mike Robinson at 574-303-9080.
See below for original release:
Motorcyclist Collides with Indiana State Police Patrol Car
Portage, Porter County-Indiana State Police are investigating a fatal crash on July 1st, 2016 at 9:30 PM. The crash occurred along the Indiana Toll Road just west of the Portage toll plaza.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Ala’a Hamed revealed that on July 1, 2016 at 9:30P.M. a 2013 BMW S1000RR motorcycle, traveling westbound on Interstate 90 near the 23 mile marker, which is just west of the Portage Toll Plaza, struck the passenger side of a white 2010 Ford Crown Victoria (fully marked) Indiana State Police patrol car. The patrol car was being driven by Trooper Jathan Rose of the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post. Trooper Rose was in the process of making a U-Turn when the motorcycle impacted the passenger side of his patrol car. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Following the crash, Trooper Rose exited his vehicle and located the downed motorcyclist in the roadway. Trooper Rose began giving chest compressions and continued until he was relieved by Sergeant Jordan Steptoe. Portage EMS arrived on scene at 10:39 P. M. and transported Portage Community hospital. The motorcycle driver died of his injuries after being transported from the scene.
The motorcyclist was identified as Michael M. Damore, 28, of Highland, Indiana. Family was notified.
Westbound lanes of the Toll Road were closed at 10:30 P.M. for investigation of the crash. All lanes were reopened at 2:24 A.M.
Initial investigation indicates that the motorcyclist’s driver’s license was suspended. Additionally, the motorcycle was not registered
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
