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Four Killed, Three Seriously Injured in Wrong Way Driver Crash on
Indiana Toll Road
Final UPDATE
The driver of the Toyota has been positively identified by a
family member as Tiara Davis, 25 of Calumet City, Illinois. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene by the
Lake County’s Coroner’s office.
Toxicology is pending.
First Update and Original Release Below:
Family has been notified of the occupants in the 2007
Jeep. Driver is Octavio Chavez-Renovato,
45 of Chicago, Illinois, front seat passenger (wife) is Eva Gonzales, 34, and son
Luis, age 14. All died at the
scene. Three daughters Emily age 10,
Damaris age 11, and seven month old Florali, survived the crash but sustained
serious/critical injuries. The three
children were originally taken to North Lake Methodist Hospital in Gary where
Emily was later air-lifted to Advocate Christ Medical Center and Damaris and
Florali (who was in a child safety seat) were flown to Comers Children Hospital
in Illinois.
Still awaiting positive identification of the Toyota driver.
I have included additional picture of the scene.
Original release below:
Gary, Lake County-A
crash involving a wrong way driver, early this morning, resulted in four
deaths, three seriously injured on the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90).
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Alaa Hamed and an
Indiana State Police reconstruction team revealed at approximately 1:41 a.m,
Region VI Regional Dispatch Center for the Indiana State Police dispatched a
report of a wrong way driver going west bound in the east bound lanes of
traffic from the 21 mile marker on the Indiana Toll Road. It was also reported that the vehicle was allegedly
driving with no head lights on. Shortly
thereafter, there was report of a head crash that was located at the 13.1 mile
marker (this is just before the Grant Street exit on the toll road).
A 2017 Toyota SUV had crashed head on into a 2007 Jeep SUV
that was traveling in the left lane. The
driver of the Toyota (lone occupant) died at the scene. Name is being withheld
pending positive identification of that driver.
Alcohol may be a factor in this crash, toxicology is pending.
The driver of the
Jeep also died at the scene. Trooper
Hamed and Good Samaritans tried life saving measures on the Jeep’s front seat
passenger and one of the minor children to no avail. They also died at the scene. Three other minor children in the Jeep were
seriously injured and taken to North Lake Methodist Hospital. All were later air-lifted to hospitals in
Illinois. Names are being withheld pending notification to their family.
All east bound traffic was closed for a short time when the
outside shoulder was opened for traffic.
Assisting: Trooper Kenneth Payonk, ISP Reconstructionists
Master Trooper Lawrence McFarrin, Corporal Glenn Katayama, and Trooper Paul
Arnold, Gary Police, Fire and EMS, Hammond Police, Lake County Coroner’s
Office, and Waffco Towing
Picture is of the scene
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent
until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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