Three people died early Sunday morning in a car crash on I-80/94 near Gary, Indiana.
Robert Hayes, 22, of Chicago, was driving westbound on I-80/94 just east of Cline Avenue at about 3:30 a.m. when he attempted to pass a semi truck that was in the right lane. Hayes passed the truck and then lost control of his vehicle, according to Indiana State Police.
Hayes' vehicle left the roadway, hit a concrete barrier wall and flipped on top of the wall, hitting a large support pole. The impact split the car in two, causing the front half of the car to face west and the rest of the car to face east, police said.
A small fire broke out after the crash and was put out by a Good Samaritan who was passing by.
A passenger in the front seat of the vehicle was thrown out of the vehicle, and a passenger in the back seat became trapped between the barrier wall and the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead on the scene.
Two other back seat passengers were taken to North Lake Methodist Hospital in Gary with internal injuries. One was later pronounced dead, and the other was moved to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
The victims who died have been identified as 20-year-old Timothy Riley, of Calumet City, 21-year-old Shaquita Kendrick, of Harvey, and 21-year-old William Burton, of Calumet City.
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Hayes, the driver of the vehicle, was taken to North Lake Methodist Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He is reported to be in stable condition. The passenger who survived is reported to be in fair condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Charges are pending in the accident, police said.
The right two lanes of I-80/94 westbound were temporarily closed after the accident.
