3 k!lled, 2 others critically hurt in Hobart crash involving semi: police, fire officials…
HOBART, Ind. (WLS) — A 19-year-old, 9-year-old and 5-year-old were killed early Friday morning in a crash in northwest Indiana.
Indiana State Police said its troopers responded to the crash on southbound Interstate 65, about 1 mile south of Ridge Road in Hobart, about midnight.
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Responding troopers found a crashed blue Ford Explorer, which was facing west and blocking the right two lanes.
ISP said the Ford’s driver, a 31-year-old Gary woman, was heading south in the right lane when she allegedly fell asleep and veered off of the road.
She then rear-ended a white Freightliner Cascadia with an attached box trailer at a high rate of speed, ISP said. The semi was parked on the right shoulder due to mechanical issues.
The Ford suffered “catastrophic damage” from crashing into the trailer, which was also significantly damaged, ISP said.
The Ford’s driver suffered upper body injuries and was taken to Franciscan Hospital in Crown Point for treatment. The Hobart Fire Department said she was in critical condition.
Three children were in the Ford when the crash happened.
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One person, unrestrained in the front passenger seat, was ejected from the Ford and died on the scene.
Two others, who were not properly restrained in the rear left seat and the rear middle seat, also died on the scene.
A fourth person, who was not properly restrained in the third row’s middle seat, suffered severe injuries. A medical helicopter transported them to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Police initially said there were four children, but one was 19.
The Lake County, Indiana Coroner’s Office identified those killed as 19-year-old Raniah Simpson of Chicago, 9-year-old Royce Sims of Chicago and 5-year-old Artavius Sims of Chicago.
They all suffered blunt force injuries.
The semi’s driver was not injured.
ISP said police are submitting felony charges against the Ford’s driver to the Lake County, Indiana prosecutor for consideration.