INDIANA — A 20-year-old woman was killed early Friday morning in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 65 in Lake County, according to Indiana State Police.
Troopers responded around 1:50 a.m. to a two-vehicle crash near the 256.4-mile marker in the northbound lanes, just north of 61st Avenue.
Preliminary findings show a silver 2022 Toyota was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes when it collided head-on with a black 2016 Ford that was traveling north in the far-left lane.
The driver of the Ford, identified as Rylee Hanson, 20, of Hobart and formerly of DeMotte, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lake County Coroner. A female passenger in the Ford suffered serious injuries and was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment.
The 29-year-old driver of the Toyota was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by fire personnel. She was airlifted to a hospital in Chicago and remained in critical condition, police said.
State police said troopers made observations before the Toyota driver was transported that led investigators to believe she may have been impaired.
Both directions of I-65 were temporarily closed to allow a medical helicopter to land and for investigators to process the scene. All lanes later reopened.
No charges had been filed as of Friday morning. The investigation remains ongoing, pending further review and consultation with the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.
Police are asking anyone with dash-camera footage of the crash or either vehicle prior to the collision to contact Trooper Somerville at 219-696-6242.
