(Porter County, IN) - Traffic is moving again on all lanes of Interstate 94 between Michigan City and Chesterton. The three westbound lanes were closed at about 7 a.m. due to an accident east of State Road 49.

 

Indiana Department of Transportation spokesperson Cassy Bajek said it took about two hours to get the westbound lanes partially reopened. Bajek said westbound traffic was backed up to U.S. 421, where drivers were diverted to use alternate travel routes around the crash site.

 

“It was a pretty significant backup. There were a lot of vehicles, obviously, that were stuck in the traffic and had to wait until we were able to get some lanes open,” Bajek said.

Bajek said all westbound were reopened just before 11 a.m.

 

According to police, a lawnmower cutting grass along the edge of the interstate did a U-turn on the highway and was struck by a van. The operator of the tractor pulling the mower was airlifted to a hospital. The driver of the van was not seriously hurt.