HAMMOND — The Indiana State Police are investigating a fatal multi-vehicle collision in Hammond that involved an off-duty local police officer, authorities announced.
The crash occurred on Friday, October 16, at approximately 8:55 p.m. According to a preliminary investigation, a black 2024 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling northbound on Columbia Avenue at a high rate of speed. The truck crossed 165th Avenue and struck a silver 2021 Toyota Highlander as it attempted to enter Columbia Avenue from a nearby business parking lot.
The impact caused catastrophic damage to the driver’s side of the Toyota, which then crashed into a fence west of Columbia Avenue. Following the initial collision, the Chevrolet rotated into the southbound lanes of Columbia Avenue, where it was struck by a gray 2010 Ford SUV.
The driver of the Toyota sustained fatal injuries and succumbed at the scene. The Lake County Coroner will release the victim’s identity pending family notification. The drivers of the Chevrolet and the Ford were transported to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and were later released.
Arrest and Investigation
The driver of the Chevrolet was identified as 34-year-old Alonso J. Lopez of Hammond, an off-duty Hammond Police officer. Lopez was taken into custody at the hospital after voluntarily submitting to a blood draw. He was transported to the Lake County Jail and held on a 48-hour probable cause hold before being released pending further investigation.
Investigators believe that excessive speed and alcohol contributed to the crash. The Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is leading the ongoing investigation, and the completed case file will be submitted to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for review and consideration of felony charges.
