A man was killed when he was fatally struck by another vehicle while standing outside of his disabled car on the Indiana Toll Road early Thursday morning in East Chicago.
Around 2:20 a.m., Indiana State Police dispatchers began receiving calls of a serious crash between two vehicles in the westbound lanes of the Indiana Toll Road near the 8.3-mile marker, according to an ISP news release. Troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell and Toll Road posts responded.
Police said the preliminary investigation showed that the victim was driving a grey 2004 Honda passenger car when they believed the car crashed into the center concrete barrier wall and became disabled in the westbound passing lane, facing north, the release stated. The driver was allegedly standing outside his vehicle when it was struck in the back by a silver 2020 Honda SUV that was also traveling westbound. The driver of the Honda passenger car suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lake County Coroner, police said. His name has not yet been released pending notification of his family.
The SUV was driven by Luke Coffey, 20, of Oak Park, Illinois, who was transported to a local hospital and treated and released, the release stated. Police said toxicology reports are pending.
Police closed the westbound lanes of the Toll Road for nearly 7 hours while the crash was investigated and the vehicles were removed.