Three children were killed and a fourth critically injured in a harrowing crash early Friday morning when the driver of the vehicle they were riding in fell asleep while traveling on an Indiana interstate, police said.
According to Indiana State Police, a 31-year-old woman was driving a Ford Explorer along I-65 southbound near Hobart when she was involved in a “serious crash” with a semi.
Police said the driver was traveling in the right lane on the interstate and “allegedly fell asleep while driving and drove off the road,” rear-ending a semi that had been parked on the shoulder due to mechanical troubles.
Police said the Explorer, which was traveling at a high rate of speed, “sustained catastrophic damage” in the crash and the semi’s trailer was “significantly damaged.”
Four juveniles were riding in the Explorer at the time of the crash and all of them were unrestrained, police said. Three of the juveniles were killed and a fourth seriously injured.
One child, who was unrestrained in the front seat of the vehicle, was ejected and fatally injured. A second, seated in the rear left seat was also killed, along side a third in the middle rear seat.
A fourth young passenger in the middle seat of a third row was taken by medical helicopter to University of Chicago Hospital for treatment “of potentially life-threatening injuries,” police said.
The driver of the Explorer suffered upper body injuries and was taken to Franciscan Hospital in Crown Point, Indiana, for treatment. The semi driver was uninjured.
The ages of the children weren’t immediately released by police.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones affected by this tragic incident, as well as the first responders who worked through this difficult call,” the Hobart Fire Department said in a release.
Authorities said both drivers consented to blood draws, with results pending as of Friday afternoon.
“Alcohol consumption is believed to be a factor in this crash,” police said.
Felony charges are expected to be filed for neglect of a dependent, reckless driving, driving with a suspended vehicle registration, child restraint violations. Charges for operating a vehicle while intoxicated may also be submitted pending the results of the blood tests.
