A Lake Station woman was killed in a crash on I-94 near the Indiana/Michigan border.
The collision happened around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 1, in the westbound lanes near the 42 mile-marker, about 3 miles west of the state line.
The preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police shows that a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado and a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt were westbound on I-94. The Cobalt was in the far-left lane at a high rate of speed. As the Cobalt and Colorado were traveling in the curve of the roadway, the Cobalt drove into the Colorado’s lane of travel and sideswiped it. This impact caused the Colorado to drive off the right side of the road, through a guardrail, and down an embankment.
The driver of the Colorado, a 47-year-old Hobart man, and a front seat passenger were both treated for serious, life-threatening injuries. A female passenger in the back seat of the Colorado, Sarah J. Cantrell, 73, of Lake Station, was unresponsive and was taken to South Bend Memorial Hospital where she died.
The state police trooper requested to perform field sobriety tests on the driver of the Cobalt, Jordan M. Morrissey, 19, from Wyoming, Michigan. The trooper also spotted evidence of recent drug use inside the Cobalt, as well as the odor of an alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath. After completing the field sobriety tests, Morrissey was offered a certified chemical test for intoxication, and he agreed to a blood draw. Mr. Morrissey was then transported to the LaPorte County Jail on the following preliminary offenses:
- Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death- Level 4 Felony
- Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury- Level 5 Felony
- Operating While Intoxicated Endangering- Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana- Class B Misdemeanor
- Operating While Intoxicated- Class C Misdemeanor
- Minor Consumption of Alcoholic Beverage- Class C Misdemeanor
