On Friday, December 29th, at approximately 4:45 p.m., troopers were dispatched to a multi-vehicle crash on I-90 eastbound at the 0.9 mile-marker. This location is east of the Indiana/Illinois state line but before the WestPoint Toll Plaza. The preliminary investigation shows that a Nissan SUV may have hydroplaned and struck the concrete barrier that divides the east/west bound lanes.
The crash resulted in the left and center lanes being blocked with that vehicle and debris. The driver of a Lexus that saw the crash pulled over to the inside shoulder and walked to the crashed Nissan. A conversation took place, and the driver of the Nissan asked the witness to call 911 to report the crash.
While he was on the phone to 911, the driver of the Nissan exited her vehicle and began to walk across the roadway towards the Lexus.
A Ford F250 truck was traveling eastbound approaching the crash scene when it appears that the driver made a sudden lane change to the left to avoid the crashed Nissan that was in the roadway. In doing so, the pickup struck the female driver of the Nissan. After striking the pedestrian, the pickup struck the Lexus that had previously pulled over to assist with the original crash. Two occupants in the Lexus were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Lexus was not injured. The female pedestrian did not survive the impact and was later declared dead at the scene by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
As a result of the second crash, an O.W.I. investigation was initiated on the driver of the Ford truck. Troopers at the scene observed signs of impairment and requested the driver to take a certified chemical test. The driver agreed to submit to a blood draw which was completed at a local hospital. Following the blood draw, he was transported to the Lake County Jail. Scott R. Schuch, 55, of Porter, Indiana, is preliminarily charged with the following:
- Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death- Level 5 Felony
- Operating While Intoxicated Endangering- Class A Misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving Causing Serious Bodily Injury- Class A Misdemeanor
- Operating While Intoxicated- Class C Misdemeanor
Final charges will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
Identification of the deceased will be made public by the Lake County Coroner’s Office once positive identification has been made.
