A semi-truck driver was injured in a crash on I-94 in Porter County.
The collision happened on Thursday, June 4, on I-94 east near mile-marker 26. Preliminary investigation by Senior Trooper Jerry George indicates that a white 2020 Freightliner pulling an enclosed box trailer was partially in the far right lane and partially on the right shoulder.
The truck is owned by West Side Transport of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was driven by Derrell V. Taylor, 32, from Steger, IL.
A black 2018 Peterbilt pulling a flatbed trailer with several coils of rolled steel, struck the rear end of the trailer that was partially in the roadway and then jack-knifed, according to Indiana State Police.
Several of the rolled coils broke free and smashed through the cab of the Peterbilt. The driver, a 47-year-old Iowa man, was trapped inside and had to be extricated by fire and emergency medical personnel. He was flown to the University of Chicago Hospital via helicopter after sustaining serious injuries.
Drugs or alcohol are not suspected to be a factor at this time.
Traffic was diverted onto U.S. 20 in Burns Harbor for several hours for scene investigation, clean up and removal of all vehicles and cargo.
