Indiana State Police Handle Hundreds of Crashes During Lake Effect Snow Storm
Northwest Indiana – The Indiana State Police Lowell Post and Regional Dispatch Center spent Sunday responding nonstop to a surge of weather-related incidents across the Region as powerful lake effect snow bands swept through the area.
According to Sgt. Glen Fifield, troopers were inundated with hundreds of calls along I-65 and I-80/94 throughout the day as two waves of intense snow blanketed the area, one overnight and another just before noon. The dangerous conditions led to widespread crashes, slide-offs, and stranded vehicles.
Troopers responded to:
• 88 property damage crashes
• 5 injury crashes
• 81 slide-offs (no formal report taken)
• 121 motorist assists, including dozens of disabled semis
Semi-truck drivers faced especially tough conditions, with many rigs losing traction on icy inclines. Multiple trucks became stuck in the middle of interstates, particularly near Ridge Road on I-65 northbound and at the I-80/94 ramps leading to I-65 north and southbound lanes. These blockages caused major traffic backups and delays for several hours.
One trooper was injured while assisting on I-65 north of I-80 when a vehicle traveling too fast for the slick conditions lost control and struck the parked police SUV. Both the trooper and the driver were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was cited for unsafe lane movement causing injury and unsafe speed.
Sgt. Fifield emphasized the importance of slowing down and heeding weather warnings during hazardous conditions:
“The number of calls for service during this event is concerning, especially when injuries and property damage occur due to negligence,” he said. “Please heed warnings that road conditions are treacherous when those alerts go out.”
Motorists are urged to check www.511in.org, local media, and the Indiana State Police Lowell Post social media pages for up-to-date travel and weather information before heading out.
Fifield also extended thanks to the National Weather Service in Chicago for maintaining close communication with troopers during the event, helping them better respond to the evolving storm conditions.
