Indiana State Police say a Chicago driver is now sitting in jail after a late-night I-94 pursuit in Lake County that tore through an active construction zone and hit speeds in the triple digits. Troopers say the chase ended only after officers pulled off a PIT maneuver and a Michigan City police K9 helped bring the fleeing driver into custody. The man was taken to a hospital for treatment before being booked into the county jail.
According to WSBT, a trooper first clocked 33-year-old Joshua Centeno going about 90 mph near the Burns Harbor exit just after midnight Saturday. After the initial stop, investigators say Centeno hit the gas again, heading east and reportedly topping out at roughly 130 mph. Police say he then barreled into an active construction zone with workers on site near the Chesterton exit. One of his tires blew out after he left the work area, according to troopers. As Centeno tried to exit onto U.S. 20, a trooper performed a PIT maneuver. Officers say he ran from the vehicle before a Michigan City Police Department K9 caught him, and marijuana was found inside the car. Centeno was treated at a hospital for a knee injury and a dog bite and was later booked into the Porter County Jail, the report states.
Another string of I-94 pursuits this spring
The incident adds to a growing list of high-speed chases on I-94 in northwest Indiana this spring that have troopers and local agencies on edge. In mid-May, a separate pursuit that also hit about 130 mph ended when a vehicle slammed into a Portage home, WNDU reported. Other recent coverage has highlighted similar multi-county pursuits along the corridor that turned up weapons or sizable drug hauls, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Local law-enforcement officials say the stretch of highway has seen several dangerous runs this spring, straining response resources and prompting stepped-up enforcement.
Why work-zone speed carries extra risk
State transportation and safety officials regularly remind drivers that active work zones are especially risky. Crews and heavy equipment can be just feet from live traffic, and lane patterns can shift quickly, which raises the odds of a serious crash. The Indiana State Police work-zone safety guidance and INDOT’s Safe Zones pilot both urge drivers to slow down, follow temporary speed limits and consider alternate routes while work is underway. Some penalties and enforcement tools only kick in when workers are actually present, the guidance notes. Agencies say easing off the gas in work zones is one of the simplest ways to protect both construction crews and everyone else on the road.
Charges and next steps
WSBT reports that Centeno faces a lineup of preliminary charges, including resisting law enforcement with a vehicle with a prior conviction, resisting law enforcement creating a substantial risk of injury, reckless driving in a highway worksite with workers present, false government-issued identification, criminal mischief and possession of marijuana. Authorities also say he had an active felony warrant out of Lake County for possession of cocaine and false identity statements. According to the police statement, Centeno remained booked into the Porter County Jail as prosecutors review the case and initial court proceedings are scheduled.
