Five Chicagoans Injured In Crash On Indiana Toll Road

CHESTERTON, Ind. (STMW) -- Five Chicagoans were injured Tuesday morning in crash on the Indiana Toll Road, including a 16-year-old girl who was airlifted to a southwest suburban hospital.

Indiana State Police responded just before 9 a.m. to a two-vehicle crash on the Toll Road (I-80/90) about a mile east of the Chesterton exit, according to an ISP release.

A 2009 Toyota SUV was eastbound in the left lane when the driver, Jason Tripodi, 23, of West Jordan, Utah, lost control, the release said. The SUV went into the median, struck an impact barre and continued through the median into the westbound lanes.

A 1994 Toyota driven by Aida Vasquez, 53 of Chicago, braked and veered right but was unable to avoid the SUV. Vasquez's car hit the right side of the SUV, and then ran into a guard rail.

Vasquez was taken to Porter Hospital in Valparaiso with a wrist fracture. A front seat passenger, Carlos Garcia, 37, was taken to Porter Hospital in Valparaiso with complaint of pain. Backseat passengers Marisol Barroi, 45 was taken to Porter Hospital in Valparaiso with back and knee pain; and Daniela Zapata, 20, was taken to Porter Hospital in Portage with a possible fractured leg.

A 16-year-old girl, also a backseat passenger, was airlifted to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with internal injuries, the release said. All those in Vazquez' vehicle were from Chicago.

Tripodi was taken to Porter Hospital in Portage with lacerations. Damage was estiamted at about $10,000 to each vehicle.

Westbound lanes were closed for about one hour for cleanup and investigation while eastbound lanes were closed for about 20 minutes to allowing for the airlifting.

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