CROWN POINT, IN : Lake County judge injured in two-vehicle crash on Thursday, 27th October, 2016

Lake County Juvenile Judge Thomas Stefaniak was injured in a crash involving his county-owned vehicle Thursday morning, police said.

Crown Point police responded about 11:20 a.m. Thursday to the area of 93rd Avenue and Main Street for a report of a two-vehicle crash, according to Lake County sheriff’s spokesman Mark Back. The Sheriff Department's Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene a short time later to assist at the request of Crown Point.

Stefaniak was transported to Franciscan Health Crown Point with injuries that were not life-threatening. The other driver was not injured and refused medical treatment at the scene, he said.

Back said Stefaniak and another driver were traveling east on 93rd Avenue near Main Street — a two-lane road with a third center turn lane — when the crash occurred.

After speaking with the involved parties and several witnesses, police determined Stefaniak was traveling in the center turn lane when the other driver turned in front of his vehicle, causing Stefaniak to strike his vehicle.

The other driver had initially reported he was in the center turn lane attempting to turn left into the Luke gas station when he was struck by Stefaniak’s vehicle, Back said. The name of the other driver was not immediately available Thursday night.

The Lake County Crash Reconstruction Unit was on scene for several hours investigating the crash, he said.

Police have yet to determine who is at fault and it’s unclear if any citations will be issued, Back said.

“The investigation is still in the initial stages," Back said, noting Lake County is leading the investigation. “This is a unique situation. This is Crown Point’s jurisdiction. Ordinarily with personal injury accidents, agencies like Crown Point will request assistance from Lake County because officers in the (Crash Reconstruction Unit) have special training,” Back said.

Source :
Lake County judge injured in two-vehicle crash