Two-Vehicle Crash Kills One in LaPorte County

A crash in LaPorte County has claimed a life.
 
 

Officers were called to the area of State Road 2 and Country Road 450 East around 10:15 Wednesday morning as a result of the crash.

According to investigators, a semi-tractor/trailer was traveling northbound on the county road, but pulled into the path of a westbound Ford F-150. The semi was struck on its right side, causing a rupture in the fuel tank.

The driver of the Ford, identified as 80-year-old Andrew Bladecki of LaPorte was found unconscious and trapped inside the vehicle. He was extricated by township firefighters and transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend through MedFlight. According to a press release, the helicopter landed on the highway to transport the driver.

Officers were notified Wednesday afternoon that Bladecki died as a result of injuries sustained during the crash. The driver of the semi, 62-year-old David Jones of Wisconsin was uninjured.

A haz-mat team was called to the scene due to the diesel spill. Traffic was delayed for a period while clean-up was ongoing.