LaPorte Man Dies in Accident

A LaPorte man was killed in a Toll Road accident late last night.

Ryan Joseph Smith, 20, of LaPorte was northbound on Holmsville Road in LaPorte County when for unknown reasons, he drove off the overpass. His vehicle went airborne and struck a semi pulling a box trailer on Interstate 80. Smith’s vehicle then rolled multiple times through the median. Smith was ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle continued into the westbound lanes where it struck another semi.

Both semi drivers were not injured in the accident. Smith was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital and was pronounced dead early this morning.

All east and west bound lanes were closed for approximately four-and-a-half hours during the crash investigation. The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and LaPorte Fire Department assisted at the scene.