Full Notification

The family of the deceased has been notified. The deceased has been identified as Lonnie W. Willoughby, 37 of Portage, Indiana. See below for the original release.

Lake Station/Lake County-Troopers Jerry George and Davonne Barlow responded to a three vehicle property damage crash that occurred on I-80/94 east bound at the 12.7 mile marker (this is just east of the ramp that merges onto to east bound I-80/94 from I-65) that turned into a fatal when one of the drivers was hit by a semi.

Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 7:02 p.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2016, a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup was eastbound in the right lane when they tried to change lanes to go into the right middle lane (four lane interstate). There the Ranger struck a 2002 Ford Focus causing that car to spin out and hit a 2012 Nissan Rogue in the left middle lane. The Focus and the Rogue both came to rest on the inner shoulder. The Ranger after hitting the Focus went off the road to the outer shoulder striking the concrete barrier wall. All drivers were not injured.

Very shortly thereafter, the driver of the Ranger pickup exited his truck and attempted to cross all lanes of east bound I-80/94. A 2005 Volvo semi-tractor pulling a box trailer owned by NTTP Incorporated out of North Lake, Illinois and loaded with paper was merging from I-65 north bound to I-80/94 east bound when the driver, Gary Griscott, 62 of Peoria, Illinois noticed multiple vehicles on the side of the road ahead. Griscott saw someone walking on the shoulder, drove past him, heard a noise, looked back in his mirror and saw someone laying on the ground.

The driver of the Ranger pickup was hit by Griscott’s trailer as he tried to cross I-80/94. The driver of the Ranger was pronounced dead at the scene by a deputy with the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification to the family.

The east bound lanes were closed for reconstruction of the crash, removal of the deceased and vehicles. Traffic was diverted off to the I-65/Central Avenue/I-80/94 east bound ramp.

Assisting: Senior Trooper Lawrence McFarrin, Trooper Nedal Nabhan Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Lake Station Police, Fire and EMS, Lake County Coroner, Hoosier Helpers, Waffco and Ambassador Towing

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.