Porter County-An early morning crash and fire has kept west bound lanes of I-94 just east of the Burns Harbor/Porter exit closed down since 4:51 a.m.
Preliminary investigation revealed by Trooper Jacob Raupp revealed that at approximately 4:51 a.m., this Wednesday, June 11, 2014, morning a 2005 Volvo semi pulling a box trailer, owned by United Parcel Service (UPS) and driven by Mijalce Karanakov, 55 of Crown Point was west bound on I-94 at the 23 mile marker in the right lane when for unknown reasons he swerved to the right as the lanes shifted to the left. This area is a well marked construction zone with lanes that jog in different locations. Karanakov failed to negotiate the jog in the right lane, swerving to the right, hitting an impact attenuator located on the outer shoulder, then scraping against the outer shoulder barrier wall, sliding across two lanes of west bound traffic and hitting the concrete barrier wall on the inside shoulder.
The impact caused his Volvo semi and box trailer to burst into flames. Karanakov was able to get out of the semi on his own and was not injured. The box trailer was empty as Karanakov had delivered his load earlier in Lavonia, Michigan and was headed back to his terminal.
All lanes east and west bound were closed for extinguishing the fire. All lanes east bound have been reopened. West bound lanes were closed with traffic being diverted off at State Road 49 in Chesterton until 7:50 a.m. when they were reopened.
Karanakov was cited for Unsafe Lane Movement
Assisting: Trooper John Holmen, Chesterton, Porter and Burns Harbor Fire Departments, Porter Police, Joe’s Towing and Indiana Department of Transportation
For summer travel safety tips, visit http://www.in.gov/isp/2968.htm
