Hammond, Lake County-A four vehicle crash, at the beginning of rush hour morning traffic, had traffic backed up for more than four miles this morning.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Erik Kocinski revealed at approximately 5:33 a.m., this Monday, January 05, 2015, morning a 1999 Nissan, Pathfinder, driven by Kirby Lino, 34 of Chicago, Illinois, was entering I-80/94 (Borman Expressway) west bound from Indianapolis Boulevard when he attempted to change lanes from the far right to the right middle lane. The Pathfinder began to spin out of control and went into the right middle lane. A 2007 Kenworth semi pulling a box trailer, owned by Sharp Transit out of Salisbury, North Carolina, and driven by Daniel Shay, 28 of Fowlerville, Michigan was west bound in the right middle lane when he tried to avoid the Pathfinder but could not. This caused the Pathfinder to spin out of control again into the left middle lane and left lane.
A 2008 Nissan, Altima, driven by Davida Champion, 44 of Hobart, Indiana, was in the left lane and tried to avoid the Pathfinder but could not. A 2009 Dodge, Avenger, driven by Robert Mills, 71 of Griffith, Indiana, was behind the Altima in the left lane and was unable to stop and crashed into the rear of the Altima. Champion was transported to Munster Community Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
All vehicles except the semi had to be towed from the scene.
Lino was cited for Unsafe Lane Movement and Expired License Plates.
The Pathfinder, Altima, and Avenger all came to an uncontrolled stop in the left, left middle and right middle lane. The semi stopped on the outside shoulder. All lanes were closed west bound for approximately an hour for emergency personnel to transport the injured, towing of the vehicles, investigation of the crash, and clean-up of the roadway.
Assisting: Trooper William Stancy, Hammond Police and Fire Department, Burt’s Towing and Caruther’s Towing
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
