Two people were killed after they got out of their car after crashing on eastbound I-80/94 at Grant Street, according to Indiana State Police, which released the following information regarding the collision:
The preliminary investigation revealed at approximately 4:15 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, a 2002 Ford Explorer occupied by three people was traveling eastbound on I-80/94 when it sideswiped a semi-trailer. The semi, 2009 Freightliner, owned by WTG Transport out of Bronx, New York, and driven by Levis Coreas, 39, of Miramar, Florida, was pulling a box trailer and was able to come to a stop on the outer shoulder.
The Explorer, after hitting the trailer, overcorrected, lost control and flipped over onto its roof. The driver and front seat passenger crawled out the Explorer to assist a back seat passenger, identified as Michael T. McIntee, 29 of Gary, when the Explorer was hit by a black Volkswagen four door. The VW, after hitting the Explorer, went off on the inner shoulder where it struck a 2004 Honda Pilot, driven by Ryan J. Vlasic, 37 of Madison, Alabama. Vlasic had initially pulled over on the inner shoulder, after the Explorer hit the semi, to see if he could be of any assistance. The driver of the VW, described as a black male, got out of the vehicle, then got back into the car and took off eastbound.
A 2007 Hyundai, Santa Fe, driven by Bradley M. Stevenson, 34 of Munster, stated a car in front of him hit their brakes and swerved to the right, when he also swerved to the right and hit something. It is believed the Santa Fe hit one of the occupants that was standing outside of the Explorer. It is not known at this time definitely which vehicle hit the second occupant.
Both male occupants who were outside the Explorer were pronounced dead at the scene by someone from the Lake County Coroner’s office. The passenger in the Explorer was taken to North Lake Methodist in Gary with non-life threatening injuries. Stevenson was also taken to North Lake Methodist with non-life threatening injuries.
Family has been notified. Names of the deceased are Nathaniel McIntee (brother of the passenger), 31 of Merrillville, Indiana and Jason Howard (nephew of the passenger), 34 of Fairmont, West Virginia.
Traffic was diverted off onto Grant Street until approximately 9:00 a.m., for reconstruction of the crash, removal of the deceased, injured, and vehicle, and clean-up of the roadway.
We are asking assistance for anyone who may have information on the driver of the VW or his vehicle, described and evidence left at the scene, as a black Volkswagen four door, possibly a Passat. It has heavy front end damage. Please contact Detective Gary Runde at 219-696-6242. Information can be left anonymously.
