The crash happened about 10 a.m. Monday on I-65 just south of the U.S. 30 exit in Merrillville, a statement from ISP said. Master Trooper Aaron Segrest, 53, was sitting in his unmarked squad car on the side of the northbound lanes when it was hit.
ISP said the 2010 Ford Crown Victoria was investigating a two-vehicle crash and had all its emergency lights flashing when a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado pickup struck its rear.
The truck, driven by Melldoran Rambo, 61 of Star City, Ind., was northbound in the left lane approaching the crash scene when it was cut off by a semi truck, Rambo told police. That forced him to brake aggressively and when he did, he lost control of the truck, which spun out across all lanes and hit the squad car.
The pickup's rear right quarter panel hit the left rear of the police car, and the truck came to rest blocking both lanes of I-65, police said.
Segrest, a 29-year ISP veteran, was taken to Saint Mary's Medical Center in Hobart with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Rambo and his passenger, 62-year-old Kay Rambo, 62, of Star City, were taken to Methodist Hospital Southlake Campus in Merrillville with non-life-threatening injuries.
Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene. No citations had been issued as of early Wednesday afternoon.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire - Copyright Chicago Sun-Times 2014.)
