Firefighters Extricate Driver Pinned Under Semi On 80/94
Shortly after 7 PM Sunday, Indiana State Police, Gary Fire Department, and Hammond Fire Department responded to a traffic crash on 80/94 Eastbound just past Cline Ave. On arrival crews found a Jeep Cherokee pinned underneath a semi trailer with the driver trapped inside.
Crews began extrication of the driver who was seriously injured according to radio traffic. An eyewitness to the accident told ISP the driver was speeding when he lost control and crashed to the wall. The impact to the wall caused his Jeep to bounce back into traffic before it collided into the rear of the semi trailer waiting for a tow truck from a previous accident.
The driver, now identified as Nicholas S. Aubuchon, 24, from Hobart, IN, was taken to North Lake Methodist for treatment of life-threatening injuries. He was later transported to a Chicago area hospital for further treatment, according to State Police. The passenger of the vehicle, Kelsie E. Figiel, 28, from Merrillville, IN, was transported to Munster Community Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
While at the hospital, several small bags of a gray powdery substance were located in Mr. Aubuchon’s possession, State Police said Monday. Those items along with a small bag of suspected marijuana were then seized and submitted for further testing. Charges are pending.
All persons named in this article are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. All charges mentioned are merely accusations, actual charges will be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
Assisting at the scene were the Gary Fire Department, WAAFCO Towing and Double T Towing.
