Hobart Man Accused of Fleeing Police at 115 MPH Before Crashing With Juvenile Inside Vehicle
A 36-year-old Hobart man, Abdal Hassouna, is facing multiple criminal charges after court records state he led police on a high-speed pursuit across Lake County and into Illinois that ended in a crash with another vehicle while his 13-year-old son was inside his car.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police attempted a traffic stop at approximately 12:51 a.m. on January 13, 2026, near I-65 and 61st Avenue in Merrillville, after observing a black Infiniti with an unreadable license plate. When emergency lights were activated, the vehicle accelerated instead of stopping and entered northbound I-65.
Court documents state the vehicle continued fleeing at high speeds, recklessly changing lanes, passing the Ridge Road exit, and merging onto I-80/94 westbound. The affidavit indicates the driver traveled in the far left lane at speeds of approximately 115 miles per hour while continuing to flee from police.
The pursuit continued westbound past Calumet Avenue and crossed over the state line into Illinois. Police report the vehicle attempted to exit onto Torrence Avenue while still traveling at approximately 100 miles per hour, at which point the driver lost control and crashed into a civilian vehicle. The affidavit states the pursuit lasted approximately 19 miles.
After the crash, officers converged on the vehicle and placed the driver into custody. Court records state a 13-year-old male juvenile, later identified by the driver as his son, was inside the vehicle during the pursuit. The juvenile was subsequently transported back to his residence.
Due to the severity of the crash, Hassouna was transported by ambulance to Community Hospital in Munster. After being medically cleared, he was taken into custody on an active Lake County warrant and transported to the Lake County Jail without further incident.
Charges filed January 13,2026:
• Neglect of a Dependent — Level 6 Felony
• Resisting Law Enforcement Using a Vehicle — Level 6 Felony
• Reckless Driving Causing Bodily Injury — Class A Misdemeanor
• Reckless Driving Causing Bodily Injury — Class A Misdemeanor
