South suburban woman killed in Gary crash

A 31-year-old south suburban woman was killed in a crash Sunday afternoon in northwest Indiana.

About 1:30 p.m. Sunday, a dark-colored Chevrolet pickup was speeding eastbound on 45th Avenue in Gary when the driver disregarded a red light at the intersection with Cleveland Street. The truck collided with a northbound vehicle that had a green light and the right-of-way, according to Lake County sheriff’s office spokesman Mark Back.

The truck then struck two more vehicles, Back said. A sheriff’s officer on patrol witnessed the crash.

The driver of the northbound vehicle that was initially struck, 31-year-old Genecia Hearn of south suburban Calumet City, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Back and the Lake County coroner’s office. She died of blunt force trauma.

The drivers of the other three vehicles all suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Back said. A passenger in the third vehicle that was struck also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by the sheriff’s Crash Reconstruction Unit.