LAKE CO. – On Wednesday, November 30, at approximately 11:16 p.m., Indiana State Trooper Riley Hieb was stationary on I-80 eastbound at the 11.3-mile marker.
Trooper Hieb was seated in his commission providing traffic direction in the left lane with his emergency lights activated. There had been an earlier crash just involving a semi and a passenger car. A 2010 Chevrolet HHR, driven by Jose Huizar-Hernandez, 67, from Lake Station, failed to yield to the stationary emergency vehicle and rear-ended the police car.
Trooper Hieb and Huizar-Hernandez were transported to Northlake Methodist Hospital by Gary EMS for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.
This is the eighth time this year that a Lowell Trooper has been struck by a vehicle while their emergency lights have been activated.
Lt. Terry Gose, Commander of the Lowell Post, expressed concern about this trend, “Please remember to slow down and/or change lanes when you see emergency lighting. The safety of our troopers and the public is of utmost concern. Just one of these crashes is unacceptable, let alone eight.”
