A Valparaiso woman was arrested on two felony charges and four misdemeanors after police said she was involved in a rollover crash Friday night in which six people, including five children, were injured.
Valparaiso police responded at 9:30 p.m. Friday to Linwood Avenue and U.S. 30. Police said two vehicles were involved in the crash, and the injured children were ages 9 to 13.
Multiple police, EMS and fire personnel responded to the scene, which closed U.S. 30 for approximately three hours.
Police said Michelle Colby, 40, of the 200 block of North Garfield Avenue, was turning northbound onto Linwood Avenue from eastbound U.S. 30 when her car was struck by a car traveling westbound on U.S. 30 driven by Casiano Dimalibot, 75, of Westmont, Ill.
Police said the children were in Colby’s car and four of them were taken to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries. A fifth child was later airlifted to a Chicago hospital, police said. Dimalibot also was taken to an area hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. The children were Colby’s two daughters and three of their friends
Police interviewed one of the children at the hospital who they believe was in the hatchback of Colby’s car, according to a police report. The girl told police when the collision occurred, she was “tumbling” around and the next thing she knew, she was on the street, the report said.
A dog that was in Colby’s car died in the accident.
The police report said Colby had a blood-alcohol content of .22 percent; the legal limit in Indiana is .08 percent, and has two prior convictions for driving while intoxicated.
Police transported Colby, who was not injured, to Porter County Jail.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
