A motorist and
truck driver were both injured on Monday in a head-on collision on U.S.
Highway 20 in Pine Township, the Porter County Sheriff’s Police said.
According to
police, at 11:15 a.m. Michael Novotney, 67, of Michigan City, was westbound
on U.S. when, near the old 84 Lumber facility just west of the county line,
he crossed the center line for unknown reasons and collided head-on with a
semi-tractor trailer operated by Thomas Smigielski, 59, of South Bend.
Novotney was
trapped in his 2004 Chevrolet Silverado and required extrication by the
Beverly Shores Fire Department, police said. He was subsequently transported
to Franciscan Health Michigan City for complaint of pain to his upper leg
and shoulder, police said.
Smigielski
complained of shoulder pain, police said.
Meanwhile, U.S. 20
was closed in both directions to allow a LaPorte County hazmat team to clean
a spill of hydraulic fluid, police said. U.S. 20 remained closed until late
Monday afternoon.