Lake County-Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Brian McCall and Trooper Ryan Purkiser responded to a fatal crash on I-80 at the 12.8 mile marker (this is just west of Central Avenue) that closed west bound traffic, during rush hour, for close to two hours.

Preliminary investigation revealed that, at approximately 4:59 pm, today, Tuesday, June 12th, a 2001 International straight truck (moving van), owned by Vesco Movers Incorporated DBA Two Men and A Truck, out of Osceola, Indiana, stalled in the middle right lane (four lane Interstate).  The driver, DeAndre K. Perry, 22 of Mishawaka, Indiana, stated that the engine light came on and the truck became disabled.  The four-way emergency lights were activated.

An unknown semi (no description given) scrapped the driver’s side of the moving van as it sat disabled.  The semi continued west bound without stopping.  Shortly thereafter the moving van was hit in the rear.

A white 1998 Dodge Dakota extended cab pick-up driven by Joshua Garner, 20 of Griffith, Indiana, was changing lanes when he hit the rear of the moving van.  Garner was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lake County Coroner of massive blunt force trauma.  Family was notified.

Passengers in the Dodge:
~ Amber Garner, 19 of Griffith, sister of Joshua.  Front seat passenger.  Taken to North Lake Methodist Hospital in Gary with non-life threatening injuries to her leg. 
~ Keith Halicky, 18 of Thornton, Illinois.  Rear seat passenger behind Amber.  Taken to North Lake Hospital with non-life threatening facial injuries.
~ Katherine A. Metzcus, 17 of Lansing, Illinois.  She was a middle back seat passenger.  She had to be extricated from the pick-up.  She was taken to North Lake Methodist and has life threatening injuries to her head.  Family HAS been notified.
~ Eugene McCall, 20 of Lansing, Illinois (not a relative of Trooper McCall).  He was a rear seat passenger behind Joshua. He had to be extricated from the pick-up. He was air-lifted from the scene and taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois with life threatening injuries.  Family HAS been notified.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this crash.

All lanes of west bound were closed for reconstruction of the crash, removal of the injured and vehicles, landing of the air ambulance, and clean-up of the road.  All lanes were re-opened at approximately 7:15 pm.

Assisting:  Indiana State Police Trooper Ricky Rayner Reconstructionist, Trooper Tim Grayson Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Indiana Department of Transportation Hoosier Helpers, Lake Station Fire and EMS, Lake County Coroner, UCAN air ambulance and Hobart Fire Department