Gary, Lake County-A Highland woman was seriously injured today when she lost control of her vehicle on her way to vote.
Preliminary investigation by Sergeant Lee Wright revealed at approximately 12:50 p.m., this Tuesday afternoon, November 8, 2016, a 2005 Chevrolet Aveo, driven by Jessica Kiel, 21 of Highland, was west bound on I-80/94 when she lost control of her car for unknown reasons. The Aveo slid across all four lanes of traffic to the south and hit a 2006 Chevrolet pickup in the left lane, driven by Vincent Cornelius, 48 of Gary.
The pickup after being hit, went off the roadway, and struck the concrete median barrier wall. Cornelius was not injured.
The Aveo after hitting the pickup, spun back north into the left middle lane where its driver’s side was broadsided by a semi. The semi, 2006 Peterbilt, owned by Oakley Trucking out of Catoosa, Oklahoma, was loaded with 80,000 pounds of coke (coal). No load was lost. The driver, Chad Bennett, 43 of Monroe, Georgia, was not injured.
Kiel was taken to North Lake Methodist Hospital in Gary with serious head and internal injuries. She was airlifted from Gary to a Chicago area trauma center. Family has been notified.
This crash is still under investigation and no tickets have been issued at this time.
Assisting: Master Troopers Aaron Segrest and Darryl Young, Hoosier Helpers, Gary Fire and EMS and Precision Towing
All lanes were reopened at approximately 2:12 p.m.
Picture is of the scene
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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