A Hammond police officer has been charged with two felonies after prosecutors say he was driving drunk on his way to work when he slammed into another vehicle, killing a 73-year-old Gary man. Alonso Jose Lopez, 34, faces one count of causing death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated and one count of reckless homicide in connection with the crash that killed Thomas Hunt Jr.
The Lake County Prosecutor's Office announced the charges Thursday, according to CBS News Chicago. Both charges are felonies. Lopez, identified by Hammond police as the driver of a black 2024 Chevrolet Silverado, was off duty at the time of the crash.
According to WIMS Radio, the crash happened at approximately 8:55 p.m. on October 16, when the Silverado was traveling northbound on Columbia Avenue at a high rate of speed. A silver 2021 Toyota Highlander, driven by Hunt, was attempting to enter Columbia Avenue from a nearby business parking lot when the Silverado struck it. One CBS News Chicago report, however, placed the crash at 9:55 p.m. Friday, a discrepancy that remains unresolved in the available reporting.
Vehicle Spun Into Oncoming Traffic
The impact sent the Silverado spinning into the southbound lanes of Columbia Avenue, where it was struck by a gray 2010 Ford SUV, the same WIMS Radio report states. The Toyota Highlander, meanwhile, crashed into a fence west of Columbia Avenue and sustained catastrophic damage. Hunt died from his injuries in the crash.
A witness estimated Lopez had been driving somewhere between 60 and 70 mph in what Fox 32 Chicago describes as a 35 mph zone, according to Fox 32 Chicago. Investigators also reported that Lopez's preliminary breath test showed a breath alcohol concentration of 0.118 percent. The outlet reports that Lopez allegedly told investigators he had consumed approximately four beers before the crash and was on his way to a work shift scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
Coroner Identifies Victim, Officer Taken Into Custody
The Lake County Coroner's Office identified the Toyota Highlander's driver as Thomas Hunt Jr., 73, of Gary, per the same WIMS Radio report. Lopez was taken into custody at the hospital where he was treated after the crash, after voluntarily submitting to a blood draw, the CBS News Chicago report notes. He has since been released pending further investigation by the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit and results of the blood analysis.
Alcohol and excessive speed are believed to have contributed to the crash, per the WIMS Radio account, though investigators have not issued a final determination. Hammond police placed Lopez on administrative leave while the investigation continues, according to ABC7 Chicago.
How the Charges Moved From Crash Scene to Courtroom
The case moved from an Indiana State Police investigation into felony charges after prosecutors reviewed the evidence. “The results of the blood draw were processed and handed over to the SCLC, who then filed the charges listed above,” according to WGN-TV. Under Indiana law, reckless homicide is defined simply: “A person who recklessly kills another human being commits reckless homicide,” according to the Indiana General Assembly's criminal code.
The date of Lopez's court appearance was not immediately known, CBS News Chicago reported. Final toxicology results from the blood analysis have not yet been made public, and the investigation remains open as the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit continues its work.
