Indiana man allegedly robbed, assaulted on I-80 near Burr Street

GARY, Ind. (WLS) -- A man was robbed of his cell phone and assaulted on I-80 in northwest Indiana after getting into an SUV with someone he knew, Indiana State Police said.

The victim, a 23-year-old man from Beverly Shores, was picked up from his home around 8 p.m. Tuesday. When he got into the maroon Jeep SUV, he saw a woman and two men he didn't know in the vehicle.

The man told police they got gas from a gas station in Porter and headed west on I-94. The driver pulled over on I-80 about 1.5 miles from Burr Street, allegedly pulled a gun on him and demanded money.

When the man refused, police said the other three people in the car went through his pockets and hit him in the face. The victim said the driver threatened to kill him.

He fought back, was kicked out of the car and left on the side of the road. His cell phone was allegedly stolen during the struggle. A state trooper found the victim shortly afterward.

He was taken to North Lake Methodist Hospital in Gary with cuts on his nose and forehead, a black eye and swelling on the right side of his face. The injuries are not life-threatening.

State police are investigating. Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact Detective Gary Runde at the Lowell Post at 219-690-0041.