(La Porte County, IN) - Deaths from drug overdose and suicide, so far, are down this year in La Porte County.

 

La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson said 53 people died in 2021 from drug overdoses compared to 45 who experienced a similiar fate so far this year.   She said there were 31 suicides last year countywide.  Currently, 21 people have taken their lives this year. 

 

Swanson hopes the numbers don’t spike before the end of the year.

 

“We’re crossing our fingers hoping the numbers are going to stay low during the holidays which is normally when we see them going up.  We’ll see what happens,” she said.

 

Swanson also reported 17 motor vehicle fatalities in La Porte County to date this year.  That's compared to 15 fatalities in 2021.  There were nine homicides throughout the county last year, which is four more than what’s presently transpired in 2022, she said.