(La Porte, IN) - A driver who crashed into an oncoming ambulance in La Porte and died was found with toxic levels of multiple drugs in her bloodstream.

 

That’s according to La Porte County Coroner Lynn Swanson, who would not reveal the specific drugs a blood test detected in the driver’s system.  Swanson said the blood sample taken from the victim during an autopsy contained no alcohol. 

 

Rachel Johnson, 44, was pronounced dead at Northwest Health in La Porte about one hour after the February 21 crash.  La Porte Police said there were no patients in the ambulance returning from a service call when it was struck by an oncoming passenger vehicle around 7 a.m.

 

Police said Johnson of La Porte crossed the center line on Rose St.  The driver of the oncoming ambulance veered to the right side of the roadway but was not able to avoid the collision.  An emergency medical technician inside the ambulance suffered only minor injuries, police said.

 

A second ambulance was called to take Johnson to the hospital because the ambulance struck was disabled from the crash.  Swanson said cause of death was ruled from both drug use and blunt force trauma to the head and chest resulting from the crash.