I-94 Archives

Lane closures planned for U.S. 6/S.R. 51 at I-94

Indiana Chronicle — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 21:00:02 +0000

LAKE COUNTY, IN – Indiana Department of Transportation contractor F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC will have lane closures on U.S. 6/State Road 51 at I-94 beginning on or after Monday, March 17.

Alternating lane closures will occur between Old Hobart Rd and 22nd Ave for approximately two weeks for traffic signal work. There will also be lane closures on the ramp from westbound I-94 and eastbound and westbound I-90 (Indiana Toll Road) to northbound State Road 51.

This is pre-work ahead of the U.S. 6/State Road 51 bridge replacement over I-94. This extensive bridge project will be ongoing through 2026.

SOURCE: Indiana Department of Transportation

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Hoosier Helper Vehicle Struck on I-80

Indiana Chronicle — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:41:26 +0000

Gary, Ind. – This morning at approximately 7:00 a.m., an INDOT Hoosier Helper stopped on I-80/94 eastbound at the 7.7 mile marker to assist a stranded motorist with changing a flat tire on the right shoulder. This location is east of Burr and Grant St. The Hoosier Helper vehicle had all of its rear-facing emergency lights activated while the tire was being changed.

At the same time, a red 2008 Ford pickup left the eastbound lanes of travel and rear-ended the parked Hoosier Helper vehicle at a high rate of speed resulting in catastrophic damage to the red Ford. The driver of the Ford was pinned in the vehicle. Troopers responded to the scene and attempted to render first aid to the driver, but they could not locate a pulse. The Lake County Coroner was contacted, and the driver was declared deceased at the scene. The Hoosier Helper that was changing the tire and the occupants of the disabled vehicle were not seriously injured.

The identity of the driver of the Ford will be released by the Lake County Coroner pending positive identification and notification of family. Toxicology results will also be pending the results of the autopsy. Evidence at the scene shows that driver impairment is believed to be a factor in this crash.

SOURCE: Indiana State Police

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ISP: Two Arrested for Carjacking After Crashing on I-65

Indiana Chronicle — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:42:40 +0000

Merrillville, IN – On Friday, February 14^th, the Indiana State Police Regional Dispatch Center at Lowell received reports of a reckless driver on I-65 that was traveling southbound from I-80/I-94. The vehicle was reported to have been driving from the left shoulder to the right shoulder at a high rate of speed, almost hitting several vehicles. As troopers were attempting to locate the vehicle, additional reports came in that the vehicle, a silver Honda, had crashed near the ramp to U.S. 30. After crashing, the two occupants of the Honda got out of the car and began to run up to additional vehicles that had stopped for the crash. The suspects reportedly carjacked a black Acura while armed with a knife. They physically assaulted the driver of the Acura while forcing the driver to exit their vehicle. The suspects fled the scene in the Acura and drove westbound on U.S. 30.

Officers from Merrillville Police, Hobart Police, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the area and located the Acura abandoned in the 7900 block of Rhode Island St. in Merrillville. Footprints in the snow led Troopers to start a K9 track from the vehicle. Troopers continued to track the suspects when dispatch received a call from the Merrillville Fire Department that two males had walked into the station at 18 West 73^rdAve and reported that they had been robbed. The description of the two subjects at the fire department matched the clothing descriptions of the two suspects that had carjacked the Acura. Officers responded to the fire department and took the two into custody.

Cain M. Knaus

Stephanie V. Raices

The two suspects have been identified as Cain M. Knaus, 26, from Walshville, IL, and Stephanie V. Raices, (also known as Victor M. Zarate) 34, from Chicago, Illinois, and Bronx, New York. Knaus had an active warrant for a parole violation through the Illinois Department of Corrections. Both subjects were transported to the Lake County Jail.

The following charges were submitted to and approved by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office:

Armed Robbery- Level 3 Felony
Robbery- Level 5 Felony
Auto Theft- Level 6 Felony
Battery- Class B Misdemeanor
Leaving the Scene of a Crash- Class B Misdemeanor
Reckless Driving- Class C Misdemeanor

The above charges are accusations of a crime. Additional investigation is being conducted to determine who was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. All suspects are presumed to be innocent until/unless convicted in court.

The Indiana State Police were assisted by the following agencies in this investigation: Merrillville Police and Fire Departments, Hobart Police, Lake County Dispatch, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division, and the Indiana State Police C.S.I.

SOURCE: Indiana State Police

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