Car Rolls Over On I-80 After Driver Shot In Head
GARY, Ind. (STMW) - The driver of a car on I-80 near Gary, Ind. early Saturday lost control of the car, causing it to roll over, after he was shot in the head by someone in another car, Indiana State Police said.
Indiana State Police Troopers Gary Runde and Marcus Gholson thought they were responding to a single-vehicle rollover crash on I-80 that was caused by the weather conditions, but once they investigated what they found was a crash that was a result of a gunshot wound, state police said.
At approximately 3:43 a.m., a 1985 Buick LaSabre was southbound on Cline Avenue near Michigan/5th Avenue in Gary when the 31-year-old driver from East Chicago, Ind., and his 24-year-old female passenger noticed a slow-moving red or maroon Dodge Durango in the left lane, a release from Indiana State Police said.
The passenger later told police they noticed both the front and passenger windows on the Durango were down on the passenger side as they neared, which they thought was unusual. She said the Durango slowed down to where it was barely moving when the driver decided to pass it. The LaSabre exited off onto I-80 eastbound and were in the right lane when she noticed the Durango pull alongside them on the driver's side. She stated she heard one gunshot and the driver of the Buick lost control of the car.
The LaSabre driver veered to the right, hit the concrete barrier wall off the outer shoulder, rolled the Buick onto its top, and hit the wall again, state police said. Both the driver and passenger were able to exit the vehicle and take refuge inside another vehicle that had stopped to see if they were alright (this person did not witness the shooting or crash).
The driver was taken to NorthLake Methodist Hospital in Gary where it was confirmed that he suffered a single gunshot wound to his left temple, state police said. He was unconscious as of later Saturday morning and was being transferred to another hospital. The passenger was also taken to NorthLake where she was treated and released.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with any information is asked to call Indiana State Police investigating Detective Jennifer Richmond at (219) 696-6242.
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