Indiana State Police Report That Multiple Car Pileups on I-85/94 Were a Result of White-Out Conditions

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

On Sunday, whiteout conditions contributed to numerous crashes, including a 17 car pileup at the 7.2-mile marker and a 13 car pileup at the 6.2-mile marker of eastbound I-80/94.

Indiana State Police report that the road closure at the 7.2-mile marker involved 4 separate crashes with 17 vehicles. Many vehicles were relocated to a truck stop on Burr Street where the crash reports were taken in order to get the roadway open sooner.

The incident at the 6.2 mile marker involved 13 cars that were involved in 7 individual crashes, according to police. Many of the crashes that Troopers responded to could have been avoided if drivers had reduced their following distances as well as their speeds. Police reported that the pileups occurred around 11:40 a.m. Continue reading →

Porter County Prosecutor Files Charge Against Chavez

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Chavez is accused of stealing this 1988 GMC Sierra pickup truck from two men in Hebron Friday afternoon.
Gary Chavez is accused of stealing this 1988 GMC Sierra pickup truck from two men in Hebron Friday afternoon.

The first of several charges has been filed against the Knox man police say stole two cars in Starke County Friday afternoon, led police on a high-speed chase, stole a third vehicle in Porter County and shot himself after officers in Lake County used stop sticks to flatten the tires of the truck he was driving. Gary Chavez, 57, is still in critical condition at Christ Advocate Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. Continue reading →

Prosecutor Waiting for Autopsy Report Before Filing Charges Against Chavez

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Sheriff's Deputy Bill Dulin and Prosecutor Nick Bourff speak to the media about the June 8, 2014 carjacking and ensuing pursuit.
Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Dulin and Prosecutor Nick Bourff speak to the media about the June 8, 2014 carjacking and ensuing pursuit.

Starke County Prosecutor Nichoals Bourff does not anticipate filing charges against the Knox man police say stole two cars in Starke County and led them on a high-speed chase through four northwest Indiana counties until at least tomorrow. Gary Chavez, 57, of Knox is still in critical condition at Christ Advocate Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. He’s been there since Friday night after shooting himself in an apparent attempt to avoid arrest by police in Crown Point. They used stop sticks to flatten the tires on the truck Chavez was driving. Continue reading →

Accused Carjacker Still Critical, Formal Charges Pending

Posted on Author WKVI
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase Friday afternoon.
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase Friday afternoon.

The Knox man police say stole three vehicles and led officers from multiple departments on a high-speed chase through four counties Friday afternoon is still in critical condition at Christ Advocate Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. The pursuit started in Starke County when Gary Chavez, 57, of Knox, allegedly stole a car at gunpoint from the parking lot at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center. Continue reading →

More Information Expected Today on Carjacking, Apparent Homicide

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Sheriff's Deputy Bill Dulin and Prosecutor Nick Bourff speak to the media about the June 8, 2014 carjacking and ensuing pursuit.
Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Dulin and Prosecutor Nick Bourff speak to the media about Friday’s carjacking and ensuing pursuit.

The Starke County Prosecutor’s Office expects to file formal charges today against the Knox man accused of stealing two cars in Starke County and leading police from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase through four counties Friday afternoon. Continue reading →

Starke County Sheriff’s Department Releases Accused Carjacker’s Name

Posted on Author WKVI
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase.
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase.

Officials with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department have released the name of the man accused of stealing three vehicles and leading police from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase through Starke, LaPorte, Porter and Lake Counties Friday afternoon. Continue reading →

Carjacker Critical at Chicagoland Hospital, Homicide Under Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase.
Officers from the Crown Point Police Department used stop sticks to end a four-county high-speed chase.

The Starke County man police say carjacked three vehicles and led police from multiple agencies on a four-county high-speed chase this afternoon is in critical condition at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. after shooting himself while trying to flee. Information released by the Indiana State Police, Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Starke County Prosecutor’s Office indicates the 57-year-old man was involved in a homicide at a home in Knox. Afterward, he drove his personal vehicle to Mark Bailey’s Discount Center and carjacked a motorist at gunpoint at 3:41 p.m. He then drove to English Lake, dumped his passenger and stole a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Continue reading →

Carjackings End With Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Sheriff's Deputy Bill Dulin and Prosecutor Nick Bourff speak to the media about the June 8, 2014 carjacking and ensuing pursuit.
Starke County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Dulin and Prosecutor Nick Bourff speak to the media about the June 6, 2014 carjacking and ensuing pursuit.

A Starke County man police say carjacked a motorist at gunpoint at Mark Bailey’s Discount Center Friday afternoon led officers from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase through four counties before turning his gun on himself. Officials from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department will only say the man is 57-years-old. He took the car from the store at 3:41 p.m., according to authorities, and drove it to English Lake, where he left the owner of the first vehicle, stole a second car and fled. Continue reading →

Snow Keeps State Troopers Busy

Posted on Author WKVI

State troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell Post are staying busy as a result of the snow that fell overnight into the early morning hours. They responded to 26 property damage crashes, 7 personal injury crashes, 30 slide off’s and 10 calls to assist motorists. The Lowell district includes Starke, Pulaski, LaPorte, Porter, Lake, Newton and Jasper Counties. Motorists are reminded to travel cautiously, as roads remain wet, snow-covered and slushy. Slow down and allow plenty of stopping distance.

 

Culver Man Dies in Motorcycle Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

A Culver man died in a Friday night accident in Lake County. The accident occurred on U.S. 30. Aaron Broeker, 27, died from blunt force trauma at around 11:15 p.m. CT when the motorcycle he was riding slammed into the rear of a car driven by a Cedar Lake resident.

Another motorcyclist was riding with Broeker at the time of the accident.

Broeker was pronounced dead at the scene.

While the Weather Remains Calm, INDOT Prepares for More Winter Weather

Posted on Author WKVI

We’ve enjoyed a few snow free days in this new year, but don’t get too excited. As we all know, Indiana weather can change quickly from one day to the next which means we could see another big snow event at any time.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is ready for the next event as their top priority is snow and ice removal. INDOT uses all available resources to keep roads open, maximize the mobility of the traveling public and help minimize accidents due to winter traveling conditions.

Continue reading →

Week in Review for December 6th-10th, 2010

Posted on Author WKVI

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.

Diana Jedynak, 67, died of fire related injuries after her home caught fire early Monday morning in Washington Township. Indiana State Fire Marshal, Fred Sumpter, said the investigation into the cause of the fire was postponed due to the weather conditions and the integrity of the structure.

Northwest Indiana Forum, Inc.

The Northwest Indiana Forum’s Board of Directors have voted to acknowldge the organization’s service territory to extend beyond Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties to include Newton, Jasper and Pulaski Counties.

Continue reading →

October Statistics from the Indiana State Police, Lowell District

Posted on Author WKVI
ISP Logo

Indiana State Police, at the Lowell District, recently released statistics for the month of October.

Troopers issued 1,410 traffic citations and wrote 3,071 traffic warnings. Troopers also arrested 50 drunk drivers and made 93 criminal arrests. Lowell District includes Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Pulaski and Starke Counties.

The Indiana State Police offers these safety tips for the holiday shopping season: Stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you. Park in a well-lighted area and be sure to lock your car. Use extra caution when walking to and from your car, preferably with a friend and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay with a check or credit card whenever possible. If you notice suspicious activity when you are shopping, contact the store’s security department or the nearest police agency.