First responders removed an Indiana State Police trooper from the Lowell Post from his squad car Monday afternoon on Interstate 94 in Portage after the trooper pulled over to investigate a single vehicle crash, only to have his car struck by another vehicle and a semi truck on the rain soaked highway.
Master Trooper Jeff Council was transported to Northwest Health-Porter for treatment of his injuries after the crash, the sixth time this year a trooper from Lowell Post has been struck by another vehicle either in or out of their police car, according to a release from Sgt. Glen Fifield, the post’s public information officer.
“In every incident, the police cars were parked with all emergency lights activated,” Fifield said.
“In Indiana, as well as our neighboring states, it is required by law that drivers yield to stopped emergency vehicles. This means slowing down when approaching emergency lights and changing lanes when safe to do so. Also, when driving in inclement weather, remember to drive defensively. This means decreasing your speeds on wet/slippery roadways and anticipating potential hazards.”
Council was dispatched around 1:23 p.m. Monday to the area of I-94 near the 20.2 mile marker of the eastbound lanes to investigate the single vehicle crash caused by high water. Council was parked with his emergency lights activated when a black 2021 Kia was traveling in the left lane and drove through the same standing water.
– Original Credit: Indiana State Police
The driver, 37, of Lisle, Illinois, lost control of the Kia and spun into the path of a semi that was traveling in the center lane. The semi struck the Kia, causing the Kia to hit the police car, Fifield said.
The semi then jackknifed, striking Council’s police car and causing severe damage. Council was in the drivers seat when his car was hit.
A 2009 Nissan Frontier driven by a man, 74, from Anchorage, Alaska, also was hit by the semi, driven by a 44-year-old from Georgetown, Ontario. Council was the only one injured in the crash, Fifield said.
The Portage Fire and Police departments, Valparaiso Police, Precision Towing, Porter County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana Department of Transportation and Hoosier Helpers assisted at the scene.
