(Northwest Indiana) - Emergency response agencies in this area were all-hands-on-deck last week with a wave of wintry weather disrupting roadway travel.
According to Indiana State Police, all personnel out of the Lowell Post were activated, including troopers who had days off, detectives, and even lab technicians to help with calls for service.
From Saturday through Wednesday, they reported over 200 car crashes involving property damage or injury. One of those was fatal. Following is a breakdown of incidents:
- Property Damage Crashes- 180
- Injury Involved Crashes- 30
- Fatal Crashes- 1
- Slide Offs (no crash report)- 54
- Assist Motorists- 106
- Interstate Checks- 64
- Traffic Hazards- 10
- Trooper Cars Struck- 2
Two trooper cars from the Lowell Post were hit. They were struck while the trooper was parked and investigating a prior, unrelated crash. ISP’s Crash Reconstruction Team also investigated a crash on S.R. 49, where a Porter County Deputy was struck by a vehicle.
Police say a significant number of the crashes investigated were the result of drivers traveling at a speed too fast for the road conditions.
Lowell Post Commander Lieutenant Terrance Weems said, “A majority of these crashes were preventable. In just four days, we saw 211 crashes. Your driving decisions matter to not only you, but they affect the drivers around you.”
