An Indiana State Police Trooper found himself in bit of a jam this morning when he was struck by a vehicle after he stopped to assist a stranded motorist.
Police say that at approximately 1:16 a.m., Master Trooper Jeff Council had stopped behind a disabled vehicle on I-94 eastbound, roughly 2 ½ miles west of the Michigan City exit. Both vehicles were pulled completely onto the shoulder and Council’s cruiser had all emergency lights activated as he got out of his car to approach the disabled vehicle.
As he stepped out of his cruiser, a white Ford van driven by Nonna Warda, 59 of Chicago, was headed eastbound in the right lane. She failed to slow down and side-swiped Council, hitting him on his right side and striking his Dodge Charger police car on the driver’s side, bending the door and shattering the window.
Warda said she didn’t see the trooper, and received a citation for Failure to Yield. Council was taken to IU Health La Porte Hospital where he was treated and released for injuries to his side.
The Indiana State Police reminds drivers that Indiana Law requires motorists to move over and or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle, or a highway maintenance vehicle, on two or four lane roadways when they have emergency lights flashing.
