Man charged with DUI in Gary multi-vehicle crash

A 38-year-old man was charged with DUI after a four-vehicle crash Thursday in northwest Indiana.

Andrew Lech, of Hobart, was charged with a felony count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, Indiana State Police said. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of endangerment and driving while intoxicated.

About 3 a.m., Lech was entering Interstate 80/94 from Interstate 65 in a 2017 Ford Explorer when he failed to yield to a 2016 Volvo semitrailer driven by a 62-year-old man of Houston, Minnesota, state police said.

Lech’s Explorer sideswiped the passenger side of the Volvo before ricocheting into an oncoming FedEx semitrailer driven by a 32-year-old man of South Bend, state police said. The Explorer then deflected once more into a concrete barrier wall where it came to a stop.

A 2019 Kenworth semitrailer driven by a 40-year-old man of Torrance, California rear ended the 2016 Volvo while it was briefly disabled in the roadway, state police said.

A dog traveling with Lech was taken by Lake County Animal Control for care, state police said. No injuries were reported.

An investigation discovered that Lech was allegedly driving with a blood alcohol level that was nearly three times over the legal limit, state police said. He is being held at the Lake County Jail.