Lake Station, IN — A gravel truck driver died on Monday afternoon after his vehicle crashed into a median wall and burst into flames on a highway in Northwest Indiana. The incident occurred on I-80/94, about one mile east of the I-65 interchange.
Crash Details
The Indiana State Police responded to the scene around 4 p.m. and found that the truck was traveling eastbound in the right lane when, for unknown reasons, it veered left into the median wall. The truck then struck an overhead signpost, which caused the vehicle to catch fire.
“The crash caused the vehicle to become engulfed in flames, trapping the driver inside the cab,” police said.
The truck’s trailer also went over the median wall, crossing into the westbound lanes of the highway. The fire spread quickly, and first responders worked to put out the flames.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Once the fire was extinguished, first responders discovered the driver’s body inside the cab. The Lake County Coroner arrived at the scene, but the victim’s identity has not yet been released.
“The driver has not yet been identified,” the coroner’s office said in a statement.
In addition to the crash, burning oil from the truck drained into the sewer system of the interstate. The Indiana Department of Emergency Management was called to the scene to manage the environmental impact.
Traffic and Road Conditions
By 7 p.m., traffic on both the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-80/94 near the crash site was restricted, with vehicles passing only on the right shoulder.
“Traffic was diverted as crews worked to clear the wreckage and mitigate the hazardous situation,” authorities stated.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Indiana State Police, who are looking into the truck’s sudden lane deviation and subsequent fire.
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