Lake Station, Lake County-Senior Trooper Dwayne Halliburton responded to a roll-over crash on west bound I-80 during rush hour traffic, this morning, that completely blocked all traffic.

Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 7:00 a.m., a 2013 Volvo semi pulling a box trailer, driven by Gregory Warchol, 32 from Brooklyn, New York was coming from the Indiana Toll Road exit ramp onto I-80 west bound when he took the curve too fast causing his unsecured load of 42,000 pounds of auto parts to shift.  This caused his semi and box trailer to roll onto its driver’s side across all three lanes blocking traffic.  The semi owned by Multi Logistics out of Elmhurst, Illinois was coming from Meadville, Pennsylvania going to Illinois.  Warchol sustained minor injuries.  He was wearing a seat belt.   Warchol was cited for Speed too Fast to Avoid Collision and Unsecure Load.

A second semi, a 2007 Mack, pulling a loaded flat bed was west bound in the middle lane when Warchol’s semi roll-over in front of him.  The driver, Dale L. Richmond, 61 from Sterling, Illinois, swerved to the right to avoid Warchol’s semi.  Richmond’s tractor struck Warchol’s semi and then went off the road down and through a water filled ditch and landed up right in the grassy area just north of the outer shoulder, Richmond’s semi owned by Rock River Cartage out of Sterling, Illinois was loaded with 48,000 pound of coke (material for making steel).  Richmond who was wearing his seat belt was not injured.

All lanes west bound were closed for approximately 45 minutes until Warchol’s semi was dragged to the north to let traffic travel on the inner shoulder and left lane.  Warchol’s load will have to be off-loaded before the tow truck can up-right and remove his semi.

Agencies assisting: Troopers Tim Grayson and Tom Devries with the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Lake Station Fire and Rescue, and the Indiana Department of Transportation Hoosier Helpers.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.