Deputies from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a head-on crash that resulted in four people from Elkhart being seriously injured.
The collision happened around 6:15 p.m. CDT on Sunday, June 18, on U.S. 20 just east of County Road 300 East.
A white Ford Crown Victoria was traveling eastbound and a gray Scion was traveling west on US 20, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office.
Witnesses reported that the Scion traveled left of center, crossed the centerline and struck the eastbound Ford, the sheriff’s department report.
The 23-year-old Elkhart man driving the Ford was initially reported to be in critical condition and was flown by a medical helicopter to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.
The 17 and 18 year-old females in the Scion were hurt with one, the back seat passenger, reported to be critically injured. She was also flown by medical helicopter to Memorial Hospital.
Two of the occupants of the Scion told investigators they were changing the radio station when the passenger in the rear of the vehicle noticed they were crossing the centerline and yelled for the driver to correct, however, it was too late.
The driver of the Ford, who is a member of the Indiana National Guard and was returning home from weekend duty in Gary, told investigators he saw the Scion cross the centerline, braked hard and made an attempt to avoid being hit by the westbound vehicle however was unable to do so.
A third vehicle that was traveling east on US 20 swerved to avoid the crash and struck a wood post and a garbage can. The driver of that vehicle complained of pain and sought medical treatment on their own.
