Full Notification

Porter County-An eleven year old Chicago boy died in crash on the Indiana Toll Road, yesterday afternoon, after his father fell asleep and hit a semi.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Glenn Katayama revealed that at approximately 2:58 p.m., yesterday, November 12, 2014, afternoon a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado pickup pulling a 12 foot U-haul trailer, driven by George Lyke, 52 of Chicago, Illinois was east bound on the Indiana Toll Road at the 34.6 mile marker (this is approximately 3 miles east of the Chesterton exit) in the right lane when he fell asleep, drifted off the roadway and hit a semi on the outer shoulder.

A 2006 Volvo semi pulling a box trailer, owned by Speed Freight Incorporated out of Grayson, Georgia, and driven by Jesus Sanchez, 62 of Snellville, Georgia, had pulled off onto the outer shoulder because Sanchez thought he was having possible engine problems. Sanchez activated his four way hazard lights and before he could exit his semi he was hit in his rear trailer by the pickup.

The pick-up’s right front hit the semi’s trailer left rear, causing the pick-up and U-haul to spin out and jack-knife coming to rest in the middle of the right and left lanes of east bound traffic. Hezekiah Thomas, 11 of Chicago (son of Lyke), a front seat passenger in the pickup was ejected out of the vehicle and came to rest in the roadway between the pickup and U-Haul trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Porter County Coroner. Jeremiah Thomas, 11 of Chicago (twin of Hezekiah and son of Lyke), was sitting in the rear seat behind his father and was not injured. George Lyke was taken to Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso and immediately flown to South Bend Memorial Hospital. He is now in stable condition. Family HAS been notified.

Sanchez was not injured. There was no load loss.

All lanes east bound were closed until 7:45 p.m. for reconstruction of the crash, removal of the deceased and injured, towing of the vehicles, and cleanup of the roadway. Traffic was diverted off at the Chesterton exit during this time.

Assisting: Trooper Danielle Elwood, reconstruction, Master Trooper Dale Turner Commercial vehicle Enforcement Division, Chesterton Police Department, Porter County Coroner, Chesterton Fire and EMS, Porter County EMS and Waffco Towing

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All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.