The Porter County Sheriff’s Police has released the name of the Michigan City man who was killed on Monday in a four vehicle accident on Ind. 2.

The victim was identified as Thomas Collins, 50.

According to police, at 4 p.m. Collins, with his wife Pamela, 48, and daughter Staria, 21, was westbound on Ind. 2 in the area of Old Ind. 2 when they were rear ended by a 2005 Ford van driven by James Alvarez, 37, of Valparaiso.

The force of the collision drove Collins’ 2005 Dodge van across the center lane, where it was struck head-on by an eastbound semi driven by John Sconiers, 44, of Mishawaka.

Sconiers’ 2000 International then hit a westbound 2008 Ford pickup truck driven by Patricia Sinn, 51, of North Judson.

Collins was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, while his wife and daughter were transported to Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus “with serious injuries.” His daughter, Staria, was later airlifted to a Chicago area hospital for further treatment.

Sconiers and Sinn were also transported to Porter hospital for complaint of pain.

Alvarez was not injured, police said. “Alcohol or drugs are not believed to be a factor.”

The PCSP and the Porter County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the accident.

The Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene.

Posted 7/28/2010

A Michigan City motorist died in a three vehicle accident on Monday on Ind. 2, the Porter County Sheriff’s Police said.

Information remained sketchy at deadline today and the victim’s name was not released.

The accident occurred at 4 p.m., Lt. Chris Eckert of the PCSP told the Chesterton Tribune today, after a van westbound on Ind. 2, in the area of Old Ind. 2, rear ended a second van, pushing it across the center line and into the path of an eastbound semi-tractor trailer, where it was struck head-on.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife and 21-year-old daughter were transported to Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus. The daughter was later airlifted to a Chicago area hospital for treatment of “severe injuries.”

The driver of the first van registered a blood alcohol content of .00 percent, Eckert said, but PCSP crash reconstructors and the Porter County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the accident.

No further information was available.

Posted 7/27/2010