Woman killed in Gary crash involving medical transport vehicle

GARY, Ind. (WLS) -- A woman died after a semi-tractor trailer and a medical transport van collided early Tuesday morning in Gary, Indiana. Four other people were hurt.

Maggie Flowers had no idea that when she got her daughter ready for her daily trip to Tradewinds Services early Tuesday morning, it would be the last time she would see her.

"I saw her get on the bus this morning and I heard the news, but I didn't know that was her bus and that was it," Flowers said, sobbing.

Kathy Flowers, 57, of the 2200-block of Hendrix Street, was mentally challenged. She took a bus to Tradewinds, a social service organization, every morning.

"She goes to Tradewinds every day to have something to do, to get her out the house and be among other people just like her," Flowers said.

The medical transport bus she was riding in was unrecognizable after the crash. The van and the semi collided just before 5:30 a.m. at the corner of West 4th Avenue and Rutledge Street.

The semi jackknifed during the crash and the cab had turned to nearly face the opposite direction by the time it landed.

Vernon Davis rushed to help the people trapped inside.

"Me and the other guy managed to get the door open and help one guy. We helped him out. He was a little disoriented, but we helped him out, set him on the grass. The other ones, they were asking for help, but we couldn't go in there and really get them," Davis said.

Authorities spent the morning taking measurements and pictures to figure out how the crash happened.

"That is all being investigated. The Lake County Sheriff's Department will be doing the actual vehicle reconstruction. The Gary Police Department will handle all the investigative aspects of the crash," said Lieutenant Dawn Westerfield, GPD public information officer.

People who live in the area said the intersection is a trouble spot. Gary police are investigating.

Kathy Flowers' relatives just want justice and for her to rest in peace.

Anyone with information regarding the crash should call Detective Sergeant Michael Jackson at 219-881-4785.