Porter County-Early this afternoon, at approximately 12:44 pm, Indiana State Police Senior Trooper Glen Fifield responded to a semi and Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that took the life of one of the drivers.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2009 Freightliner pulling double trailers was west bound on U.S. 30 in the right lane when the driver, Roberto Sanchez, 52 of Charlotte North Carolina, stated he had started to cough and couldn’t control it. He then realized the light for west bound US 30 had turned red and was unable to stop before he hit a SUV that was south on 600 West crossing US 30.

The impact caused the semi and SUV to cross over the grassy median and come to rest in the two left lanes of east bound US 30.

The driver of the SUV died at the scene.

Family HAS BEEN notified.  The driver of the red 2011 Jeep is Marla L. Fry, 43 of Valparaiso.

The semi was owned by Old Dominion out of Thomasville, North Carolina it was loaded with general freight, no load was loss.  Neither Sanchez nor his co-driver (who was asleep in the sleeper berth of the semi) was injured.

All lanes west bound were closed for the reconstruction of the crash; the outer shoulder east bound was opened.  At this time, one lane west bound and only the outer shoulder of east bound US 30 is open.  A tow truck is on scene at this time for removal of the vehicles we are anticipating the road to be reopened within the next hour.

Agencies assisting:  Porter County Coroner, Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
Division and Union Fire and Rescue.