Rensselaer man, 3 others hurt in icy I-65 crashes early Saturday
Post-Tribune Staff Report December 29, 2012 10:01AM
Ice on the roadway is believed to have been a contributing factor in a six-car accident early Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, on Interstate 65 in Merrillville. | Indiana State Police photo
Updated: December 31, 2012 8:36AM
Four people were hospitalized early Saturday after a series of icy crashes on Interstate 65 in Merrillville.
According to a press release from the Indiana State Police, a white 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Peter Tychek, 31, of Rensselaer, was northbound at 4:18 a.m. when he spun out on the icy roads and struck the median barrier near the 61st Avenue exit.
As Tychek inspected the damage to his car, a black 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche driven by Marco A. Valdez, 19, of Lawrenceville, Ga., lost control and spun out, colliding with Tychek’s Cavalier. Tychek was then struck by his own car, which hurdled him over the median wall, police said.
Four other vehicles also lost control and were damaged, but there were no injuries, police said. Two of the of the drivers drove away with minimal damage and the other two were heavily damaged. Both the Valdez vehicle and Tychek vehicle were a total loss.
Tychek was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Hobart with complaints of neck, back and body pain. Valdez and his two passengers, Maria Arreola, 37, and Juan Najera, 38, also from Lawrenceville, were transported to North Lake Methodist Hospital in Gary with complaints of back and neck pain. None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening at this time, police said.
Lake County Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control and secondary crash reports.
