A Jackson Township resident died of his injuries after being rear-ended on Ind. 49 by a semi-tractor trailer on the night of Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The victim has been identified as Charles N. Trembly, 42.

According to police, at 10:35 p.m. Trembly was northbound on Ind. 49 when he stopped for a red light at the intersection of East Porter Ave., where he was rear-ended by a semi operated by Miralem Prijic, 44, of Carpentersville, Ill.

Both a witness and Horizon Bank surveillance camera footage confirm that “south- and northbound traffic (on Ind. 49) had a red light,” police said. The witness advised police that Prijic was traveling “at an unsafe speed” at the time of the crash which the witness estimated at “at least 30 to 40 mph.”

Trembly had to be extricated from his 1997 Saturn by the Chesterton Fire Department. He was then transported to Northwest Hospital (formerly Porter Regional Hospital) and from there airlifted to an unknown trauma center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

“Mr. Prijic stated that he believes the traffic signal for northbound traffic on Ind. 49 displayed a green light at the time of the crash,” police said. “Officers attempted to get a more detailed statement from Mr. Prijic at a later time; however, Mr. Prijic refused to provide a statement.”

Prijic did test negative for alcohol on a voluntary blood draw, police said.

Prijic was issued a citation for disregarding an automatic signal, police said.