Sheriff Deputy Airlifted After Crash
Friday night (06/19/20) at 10:00 PM, Captain Andy Hynek had just started his shift as the Midnight Shift Supervisor. At 10:02 PM, he notified the La Porte County Regional E-911 Dispatch Center that he had been involved in a motor vehicle crash at US 20 and CR 450 East. At 10:03 PM, Sergeant Jeff Wright arrived at the scene. He immediately went to render aid to Captain Hynek. While doing so, Sergeant Wright was approached by a subject stating he was the other driver involved in the crash and was not injured. Captain Hynek was alert and continued to communicate with Sergeant Wright until emergency personnel arrived to treat him. He complained of pain to the right side of his body. A medical helicopter was summoned to the scene for Captain Hynek. A landing zone was set up along US 20 east of CR 450 East. Captain Hynek was extricated from his vehicle by emergency personnel and airlifted to Memorial Hospital of South Bend for treatment.
Members of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) were summoned to the scene for the crash investigation. Investigators and deputies determined Captain Hynek was traveling west on US 20 at CR 450 East in his agency issued blue 2017 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor. A white 2020 Mack tandem axle truck, driven by James V. FUTCH (50 YOA) of Dallas, Texas, was traveling south on CR 450 East. FUTCH failed to yield and began to cross US 20 directly into the path of Captain Hynek’s westbound vehicle. Captain Hynek was unable to avoid colliding with the truck being driven by FUTCH.FUTCH was issued a citation for Failure to Yield (IC 9-21-8-31). FUTCH was transported to an area hospital for toxicology tests. Captain Hynek was treated and released from Memorial Hospital this morning at approximately 1:00 AM. US 20 was closed for several hours in both directions while investigators and deputies worked the crash scene. At 3:55 AM, US 20 was reopened. Toxicology test results are pending. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
Assisting: Sheriff John T. Boyd, Captain Derek J. Allen, Captain Pat Cicero, Sergeant Adam Hannon, Sergeant L. Scott Boswell, Sergeant Jon Burger, Deputy Slawek Czupryna, Detective James Lear, Deputy William Masterson, Deputy Ryan Doperalski, Deputy Jon Samuelson, Detective Gabe Struss, Deputy Derrick Deck, Deputy Austin Howell, Memorial MedFlight, La Porte County EMS and Kankakee Township Volunteer Fire Department.
