Deadly crashes, complaints prompt U.S. 20 traffic detail in LaPorte Co.

Lauren Cross Jun 15, 2017 Updated 9 hrs ago

LAPORTE — Following a string of deadly crashes along U.S. 20 and an uptick in fielded complaints, the Indiana State Police teamed up with LaPorte County Sheriff's deputies last week for an enhanced traffic enforcement.

As of May 31, police have tallied nine fatalities along the county's stretch of U.S. 20. Seven of the fatalities occurred within the jurisdiction of LaPorte County police. Two were handled by Michigan City police.

Deputies and state troopers were stationed between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. June 9 and 10, at County Road 350 East and U.S. 20, according to a sheriff's office news release.

A state police aircraft clocked violators and observed for traffic violations, police said, and once a violation was observed, the information was radioed to the patrol units to make the traffic stop.


A total of 19 citations and 55 warnings were issued over the two-day period, police said.

LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd said his department has "worked diligently" to help make the county's section of the highway safer.

"Our partnership (with state police) should serve as notice to the reckless and inattentive drivers that they will be sought out and cited," Boyd said in the release. "We also hope that our residents and those that travel this stretch of highway in LaPorte County see the efforts being put forth and will work with us to help make travel safe.”

I think interstate construction, combined with the increases in the toll road, has shoved off a lot of traffic on to Highway 20. Combine that with a lot of people driving distracted, and you have this situation.

Additionally, there are a lot of cars that need to turn left off of the highway as there are a number of businesses and housing developments off of 20. The road is also narrow.

The entire stretch from Fail road to I94 has always been fightening. Fail Road and 20 used to be the primary death trap back in the early 1980's until the lights were installed.

I wish the state police issued more citations than warnings. People understand losing something from their wallet more than they would from a warning. I am of the opinion that 5 miles above posted speed limit on this stretch of road is worth a citation.

UPDATE: Victims identified in deadly La Porte County crash

LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. (WNDU) - UPDATE:

Police have identified the victims in a deadly head-on crash on U.S. 20 in La Porte County.

Don Kaczmarek, 47, and his wife, Angie Kaczmarek, 49, both of Michigan City, died in Friday night's head-on crash near U.S. 20 and Bootjack Road, according to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office.

Police said the Kaczmarek's minivan was hit by a Ford Mustang that was traveling left of center.

The driver of the Mustang has been identified as Tron Gorbonosenko, 40, of New Carlisle. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

Police said they're waiting on the results of toxicology tests to see if alcohol use was a factor in the crash, but late Friday night police said they suspected alcohol was involved.

EARLIER:

Alcohol use is now suspected in a crash that killed two people and sent one to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 20 in La Porte County

The crash happened before 7:40 p.m. local time Friday night near U.S. 20 and Bootjack Road. A portion of the highway was closed between C.R. 600 and 700 for hours, but reopened at around 10:30 p.m. local time according to police.

According to police, two people in a Honda Odyssey Minivan were traveling west and a Ford Mustang was traveling east on U.S. 20. They said the Mustang crossed the center line and hit the minivan head on, killing the driver and passenger instantly. The driver of the Mustang was extracted from car airlifted to the hospital.

Police suspect alcohol in the crash, but are also looking into things like weather conditions or speed to determine what played a role in the crash.

"This is the first time we have had rain in a while which means the roadways are going to be very slick," said Capt. Mike Kellems of the La Porte County Sheriff's Office. "Oil builds up on the roads the water and oil mix and make for slick road conditions any time it's dark out we want to slow down and start paying attention to our driving and again those are all the factors our investigators will look at as we start to piece the crash back together."

At least 11 people have been killed in crashes on U.S. 20 since the beginning of the year, however, most of those crashes occurred west of Rolling Prairie. Friday night's crash happened about 3 miles east of the town.