A wrong-way crash on Interstate 65 just north of 61st Avenue near Merrillville killed 20-year-old Hobart resident Rylee Hanson early Saturday, after a head-on collision that also left two other people seriously hurt, according to Indiana State Police. The crash happened shortly before 2 a.m., and emergency crews had to cut one driver from the wreckage while a medical helicopter landed on the highway.
Crash details
Investigators say a 29-year-old woman driving a silver 2022 Toyota was headed south in the northbound lanes of I-65 when she crashed into a black 2016 Ford in the far-left lane, according to ABC7 Chicago. The Ford’s driver, later identified as Hanson, was pronounced dead at the scene. A female passenger in the Ford suffered serious injuries and was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital.
Response and road closures
Local firefighters had to use cutting tools to free the Toyota driver, who was then airlifted to a Chicago hospital in critical condition. Troopers at the scene reported seeing signs that led them to believe the driver was impaired, WNDu reported. Both northbound and southbound lanes of I-65 were shut down for the helicopter landing and crash investigation, and all lanes were later reopened.
Investigation
No charges had been filed as of Friday, and Indiana State Police said the case remains under active investigation pending review and consultation with the Lake County Prosecutor's Office. Troopers are asking anyone who has dash-cam or surveillance footage of the collision or of either vehicle before impact to contact Trooper Somerville at 219-696-6242, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Why wrong-way crashes are so deadly
Federal safety data show that while wrong-way wrecks are relatively rare, they are far more likely to be fatal than most other types of highway crashes. A special investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found that these crashes frequently involve impaired drivers and late-night hours and contribute to several hundred deaths nationwide each year. The agency recommends a combination of engineering fixes on roadways and driver-focused countermeasures to reduce the toll, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
How to help
Investigators are still working to reconstruct the moments leading up to the crash and are again appealing for video from anyone who was driving in the area around the time of the collision. Anyone with dash-cam footage, security video, or other information is asked to call Trooper Somerville at 219-696-6242 to help authorities fill in the gaps.
