Motorcyclist killed on rural NW Indiana road

A 45-year-old man was killed Tuesday when his motorcycle crashed into a Jeep Cherokee in Porter Township, Indiana.

Michael Kotas, of Hebron, was westbound on a Harley Davidson motorcycle about 5:45 p.m. on Country Road 350 South when he disregarded a stop sign at the CR 600 West intersection, according to a statement from the Porter County sheriff’s office.

The Jeep, driven by a 46-year-old Hebron man, was southbound on CR 600 West when it crossed the intersection and collided with Kotas, who failed to stop, the sheriff’s office said. Kotas was thrown from his motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene.

The Jeep’s driver was not injured, the sheriff’s office said.

A utility pole was sheared in half, forcing the intersection to close, the sheriff’s office said. The Porter County Accident Reconstruction Unit is handling the investigation, and the intersection is expected to be closed through the night.

No further information was available.