Semi driver killed in Interstate 80/94 crash in NW Indiana

A semi driver was killed when the truck he was driving collided with two other vehicles and rolled over early Friday on Interstate 80/94 near Hammond, Indiana.

Traffic was slowing down or stopping for road construction in the westbound lanes of I-80/94 just west of Cline Avenue about 1:15 a.m. when the 2006 International semi hauling a trailer loaded with corn failed to slow down, according to a statement from Indiana State Police.

The semi hit a 1997 Ford Taurus that was in the right middle lane, causing the Taurus to come to a rest in the left middle lane, police said. The semi then hit a 2008 Nissan Altima that was in the right lane, causing the Altima to hit a 2017 Kia Rio that was ahead of it. The Altima came to a rest in the grassy area north of the expressway and the Rio came to a rest on the outer shoulder.

The semi then went off the road to the north and overturned on the grassy embankment, police said. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Lake County coroner’s office identified him as 53-year-old Michael Northern. He lived in the 5300 block of North State Road 39 in LaPorte, Indiana.

The driver of the Taurus was not injured, but his three passengers were taken to Munster Community Hospital with complaints of pain, police said. The Altima’s driver was taken to Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary, Indiana, with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Rio refused medical treatment at the scene.

Multiple lanes of the expressway were closed after the crash as crews cleared the scene, but they had all been reopened by 7:10 a.m., according to police.