Road maintenance worker, driver killed in Toll Road crash

LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Indiana State Police troopers investigate the death of a worker, and claims of a speeding erratic driver, in LaPorte County.

Indiana State Police (ISP) says Toll Road dispatchers received a call about the driver heading westbound on the Toll Road this morning.

Dispatchers relayed that information to troopers, and just moments later around 11:30 a.m., the same vehicle in question – a red passenger car – hit the rear of a maintenance pickup truck.

The pickup, driven by 49-year-old Kevin Standefer of LaPorte, had been parked on the inner shoulder westbound on the Toll Road, just east of the Michigan City exit.

The pickup, according to ISP, had warning lights and a lit arrow board activated, and there was also signage behind the pickup warning westbound traffic of workers ahead.

52-year-old Daniel J. Miller of LaPorte, a passenger in the pickup, had just exited the truck to get trimming equipment out of the back when the red passenger car hit Miller and the rest of the pickup.

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaPorte County coroner.

Standefer was taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City with non-life-threatening injuries.

Miller was a 17-year employee and Standefer a 12-year employee with the Toll Road.

The unidentified driver of the red car was airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital where he died from his injuries. His family is still being notified.

Both vehicles were totaled. The westbound lands were closed for roughly two hours for reconstruction of the crash, airlifting of the driver and cleanup of the roadway.

ISP wants to remind you: Indiana law requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching an emergency or maintenance vehicle.