The deceased has been identified as Daniel R. Evans, 37 of Terre Haute, IN. Family has been notified. See below for original release:
Porter County-A vehicle parked on the outer shoulder of I-94 was hit by a semi; causing the parked vehicle to hit its driver and kill him.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Jim Brasseur revealed at approximately 1:27 a.m., this Saturday, March 11, 2017, morning a 2005 Peterbilt semi pulling a box trailer owned by JTL Carriers LLC out of Franklin, Wisconsin, and driven by James T. Moore, 72 of Inkster, Michigan was west bound on I-94 at the 27 mile marker (this is one mile east of the State Road 49/Chesterton exit) when he went over the white fog line on the outer shoulder and hit a parked vehicle.
A 1978 Chevrolet K20 pickup was parked on the outer shoulder for unknown reasons and its male driver was standing outside the pickup on the driver’s side front quarter panel when the Peterbilt hit the pickup forcing the pickup into the driver. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene by a deputy with the Porter County Coroner’s office of blunt force trauma. Name is being withheld pending notification of the family.
After hitting the pickup the semi went off the roadway to the north and the tractor rolled over onto its side. The trailer loaded with 20,000 pounds of wooden pallets stayed upright. No load was lost. Moore was wearing a seat belt and refused medical treatment at the scene.
The right two lanes westbound were closed for reconstruction of the crash, removal of the deceased and vehicles and clean-up.
Assisting: Senior Trooper Lawrence McFarrin, Trooper Nedal Nabhan of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Troopers William Carlson and John Landowski, Porter County Coroner’s Office, Chesterton Fire and EMS and Waffco Towing
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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