Five people were seriously injured Sunday, after police say an SUV pulled into the path of an oncoming semi truck near LaPorte. Deputies with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office say it happened around 7:00 p.m., at the intersection of State Road 2 and 18th Street, in front of the LaPorte County Fairgrounds.
A 2003 Mercury Mountaineer was reportedly heading west on 18th Street. Officers believe it stopped at the intersection, but then pulled into the path of a 2018 International semi tractor-trailer that was traveling eastbound. The driver of the Mercury reportedly told deputies that she thought the semi had to stop at the intersection.
Police say everyone in the SUV was injured. The driver, Myrna Santos, 36, of Hammond, complained of pain in her entire body. A rear-seat passenger, Andre Santos, 16, of Hammond, is believed to have been ejected from the vehicle and was flown from the scene with internal injuries. Also riding in the back seat were eight-year-old Josiyah Santos and 12-year-old Aaliyah Santos of Hammond. Josiyah reportedly suffered internal injuries to the abdomen and pelvis, while Aaliyah complained of body pain. Front-seat passenger Janice Vasquez, 44, of East Chicago, complained of chest pain, according to police.
Officers say the driver of the semi, Michael Owen, 38, of Francesville, was uninjured. Both drivers tested negative for alcohol consumption, according to LaPorte County Police.
Three ambulances and two medical helicopters responded to the incident. The crash had State Road 2 closed for an hour and a half Sunday night.
