A Northwest Indiana community is mourning a doctor and two of his children killed in a crash on I-65 Monday night.
Dr. Mallik Chaganti, 45, of Rensselaer, Ind., his young son and daughter were all killed when their vehicle rear-ended a semi that had slowed down due to an earlier accident near the Roselawn exit. A third child, Chaganti's son, survived the crash, suffering from broken bones.
Chaganti was driving home from O'Hare International Airport after dropping off his wife, who was headed to India to attend her father's funeral.
The family's neighbors and Chaganti's colleagues are devastated.
"He was just a person who supported the community, was really accessible and just loved medicine," said Jasper County Hospital CEO Tim Schreeg.
Anna Zimmer says she has not slept since she received the bad news early Tuesday morning. She was responsible for keeping the family doctor's medical office tidy and often watched the children.
"He was loved," Zimmer said. "It's going to be hard."
As of Tuesday night, friends and family weren't sure Chaganti's wife was aware of the tragedy as she traveled to India.
