Man’s body found in ditch along Interstate 65
A cleanup crew found a body lying in a ditch along Interstate 65 near Crown Point on Friday.
Around 9:20 a.m., a crew was working along the ramp from U.S. 231 to southbound I-65 when they spotted a man’s body lying in the west ditch, according to an Indiana State Police news release.
Detectives from the Indiana State Police responded to the scene. Foul play was suspected, and a homicide investigation has been initiated, police said.
The man’s identity is being withheld pending positive identification and family notification. An autopsy will be conducted by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
The Crown Point Police Department also assisted at the scene.
Anyone with any information may contact Detective Hamed at 219-690-0036.
Man killed when his truck hits stopped Hoosier Helper vehicle
A man was killed when his truck was traveling at high speeds and struck a Hoosier Helper vehicle on the Borman Expressway early Friday morning.
Around 7 a.m., an INDOT Hoosier Helper was stopped in the right shoulder between the Burr and Grant Street exits on eastbound I-80/94 to help a stranded motorist change a flat tire, according to an Indiana State Police. The Hoosier Helper vehicle had all of its rear-facing emergency lights activated while the tire was being changed.
Police said the driver of the red 2008 Ford pickup left the eastbound lanes of travel and rear-ended the parked Hoosier Helper vehicle at a high rate of speed resulting in catastrophic damage to the red Ford. The driver of the Ford was pinned in the vehicle. Police tried to render first aid to the driver, but they could not locate a pulse.
The Lake County Coroner was contacted, and the driver of the Ford was declared deceased at the scene. His identity will be released by the Lake County Coroner pending positive identification and notification of family, police said.
The driver of the Hoosier Helper who was changing the tire and the occupants of the disabled vehicle were not seriously injured.
Toxicology results will also be pending the results of the autopsy. Police said there was evidence at the scene that shows that driver impairment is believed to be a factor in this crash.