UPDATED: A chain-reaction accident on U.S. Highway 20 in Pine
Township today left one of the drivers with serious head trauma and another
with a broken collar bone, Porter County Sheriff’s Police said.
Sgt. Larry LaFlower told the Chesterton Tribune today that the crash
occurred around 7:20 a.m. Officers responded to the area of
Palko Distributing 4991 E US 20 after a report of a multiple vehicle crash
with injuries.
The initial investigation indicates that an eastbound 1999
Pontiac, driven by Robert Huffstodt 55 from Valparaiso, was stopped waiting
to turn into Palko Distributing, when he was rear ended by another eastbound
vehicle, a 2007 Toyota driven by Eric Keiser 29 from Demotte.
The Pontiac was
pushed off the roadway and the Toyota struck an eastbound semi, driven by
Leo Lewis 31 of Michigan City.
The Toyota then
shot back over the center line and was struck by a westbound vehicle, a 2009
Honda driven by Ann Dyra 49 of Lombard, IL.
Keiser suffered
severe head trauma and was transported to St. Anthony's Hospital in Michigan
City and later airlifted to South Bend Memorial.
Lewis had
complaint of pain to his back, and Dyra suffered a fractured collar bone and
internal injuries. Huffstodt had no complaint of injuries.
All lanes of US
20 were closed for 2 hours while the crash was investigated and cleaned up.
Alcohol is not
believed to be a factor in the crash, but witness statements indicate that
Keiser was driving at an excessive speed prior to the crash, police said in
a statement today.
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