La Porte County Officials Respond to Fatal Crash

A single car accident in La Porte County Thursday afternoon claimed the life of a La Porte man.

La Porte County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the crash in the 2000 S. block of U.S. 35 in Pleasant Township a little after 3 p.m. CT on April 4.

Police say an investigation found that a green 1996 4-door Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle was traveling north on U.S. 35 around 2000 S. when it reportedly left the northbound lanes for an unknown reason, traveled off the east side of the roadway and struck a large tree. 

Emergency responders were able to free the driver from the vehicle quickly and immediately began medical attention, but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report. 

La Porte County Coroner Bob Cutler identified the driver as 41-year-old Joseph A. Freese, of La Porte.  Cutler determined that Freese died as the result of blunt force trauma.  Officials stress that the matter remains under investigation by the La Porte County Coroner’s Office.  Toxicology test results are pending. 

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Department and the La Porte County Coroner’s Office were assisted at the scene by the Indiana State Police, La Porte County EMS, and the Pleasant Township Volunteer Fire Department.