The investigation into a Tuesday morning crash on U.S. 421 in LaPorte County that injured five people is continuing. Investigators with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department say a Ford Expedition driven by 44-year-old Patrick Michaels of Wanatah was northbound near Alida Road around 5:30 a.m. and collided with a southbound GMC Sierra pickup truck driven by 43-year-old Vincent Fischer of Valparaiso. Officers say four passengers, 40-year-old Logan Fischer, 17-year-old Cheyenne Fischer and 10-year-old Duncan Fischer, all of Valparaiso, were passengers in the truck. Vincent, Logan and Duncan were the most critically injured and were flown to an area hospital. The other two were taken by ambulance for treatment.
Detectives from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team believe Fischer’s vehicle was left of the center line prior to the crash. They say nothing indicates alcohol or drugs were factors in the wreck. Investigators do want to talk to the driver of a northbound vehicle, possibly a Dodge Neon, that was reportedly just ahead of the expedition before the crash occurred. Anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the crash or who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact Detective Scott Boswell with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office at 219-326-7700 extension 2443.
