LaPorte County Sheriff Investigates Third Fatal Crash This Week
On February 17, 2020, at approximately 8:51 AM, deputies were summoned to the 2100 north block of Wozniak Road, located in rural Coolspring Township, reference a motor vehicle crash.
Deputies arrived and located a passenger vehicle off the east side of Wozniak Road, south of Orchard Drive.The crash investigation determined that a red 2015 Nissan had been traveling south on Wozniak Road. For an unknown reason, the vehicle drove left of center and across the northbound lane, left the traveled portion of the roadway and struck a NIPSCO utility pole, before coming to rest.
The driver (lone occupant) was identified as Michael A. TOTH 53 (YOA), of Chesterton, Indiana. TOTH was pronounced dead at the scene. Toxicology results are pending.Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department, La Porte County EMS, La Porte County Coroner’s Office, Cloverleaf Garage and NIPSCO.
Food for thought for local, county, and state government: getting ahead of snow plowing, and salting roads can save lives. I’m no fan of Illinois, but if there’s one thing Illinois does right (the same is true for the city of Chicago) is clearing the roads of snow. How is it that On Wednesday night after the snow fall, Illinois roads are clear of snow and traffic on the Illinois side of the interstate is moving at 70 mph and once you cross into Indiana, traffic is moving at 30 mph. The same is true for town and rural roads in Indiana.
I do not mean to trivialize this individual’s death or the heartache it causes the family. I am somewhat familiar with the area. This accident occurred in what most would consider a rather rural area. Choosing to live or drive in such an area comes with the risk of not having the roads plowed or treated in the manner that some are accustomed to. I have personally driven in areas like this often. I am hoping to move to such an area and do so with that full knowledge. I also have had incidents that I was fortunate to come away from virtually unscathed. These areas do not have a tax base sufficient to provide the services that city dwellers expect. Just as in the city, main roads have priority. Plowing, restoration of electrical power, well maintained or even paved roads, etc, cannot and should not be expected.