A 10-year-old child died as a result of a Friday morning accident between a van and a commercial motor vehicle in the 14000 S. block of U.S. 421 in rural Cass Township in La Porte County.
According to the report, a tree service company truck was backing a wood chipper out of a driveway onto U.S. 421 with a flagger stopping traffic to allow the truck to exit the driveway.
Police say a van driven by 30-year-old Christopher S. Lawson, of La Porte, was traveling southbound on U.S. 421 just after 10:15 a.m. CT when he stopped the van as directed by the flagger.
A semi-tractor driven by 30-year-old Demon A. Gaston-Hargett of Ecorse, Michigan, was traveling southbound on U.S. 421, but reportedly realized too late that the traffic was stopped and crashed into the rear Lawson’s van, according to the report.
Five occupants in the van were trapped inside and required extrication, according to the report. Two adults and three children inside the van were injured and transported by ambulance or helicopter to hospitals. Police say a 10-year-old boy, who had been seated in the center of the rear seat, later passed away as a result injuries sustained in the crash.
Toxicology test results are pending. The crash investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released.
The highway was closed for approximately three hours to investigate the crash. The La Porte County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by the Indiana State Police, La Porte County and Northwest Health EMS, Memorial MedFlight, Parview Samaritan, Allen County Coroner’s Office, Cass-Clinton Township and LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Departments, La Porte County Haz-Mat, and the Indiana Department of Transportation.
