LAPORTE CO. – On Sunday, January 1, 2023, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Lowell Regional Dispatch Center received calls of a vehicle crash involving injuries on I-94 westbound near the 42-mile marker. This is approximately 3 miles west of the Indiana/Michigan state line.
A preliminary investigation by ISP Trooper Joshua Luckey shows that a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado and a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt were westbound on I-94. Further investigation revealed that the Cobalt was westbound in the far-left lane at a high rate of speed. As the Cobalt and Colorado were traveling in the curve of the roadway, the Cobalt drove into Colorado’s lane of travel and sideswiped it. This impact caused Colorado to drive off the right side of the road, through a guardrail, and down an embankment.
The driver of the Colorado, Robert J. Hinkle, 47, from Hobart, IN, and a front seat passenger were both treated for serious, life-threatening injuries. A female passenger, 73-year-old Sarah J. Cantrell, of Lake Station, IN., who was in the back seat was unresponsive at the scene and was transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital for treatment. She died while being treated at the hospital for her injuries.
Trp. Luckey then requested to perform field sobriety tests on the driver of the Cobalt, Jordan M. Morrissey, 19, from Wyoming, MI. Further investigation by Trp. Luckey led him to observe evidence of recent drug use inside the Cobalt, as well as the odor of an alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath. After completing the field sobriety tests, Morrissey was offered a certified chemical test for intoxication, and he agreed to a blood draw. Morrissey was then transported to the LaPorte County Jail for processing. He is preliminarily charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, OWI causing serious bodily injury, OWI endangerment, OWI, possession of marijuana, and illegal consumption.
Further investigation into this crash is being completed by Master Trooper Lawrence McFarrin and the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit.
