Update (March 6, 2025): Authorities have identified the driver killed in this crash as Eric Buzalski. No additional information about the crash is available at this time.
Porter County, IN — February 24, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 9 a.m. on Interstate 20 near Chesterton.
Authorities said a pickup was trying to pass a slower moving vehicle when it strayed into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with a semi-truck. The semi hit another semi-truck as it moved to the right in an attempt to avoid crashing into the pickup.
The pickup driver, whose name has not been made public at this time, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near North Brummitt Road.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Porter County crash at this time. The accident remains under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Anytime a vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic, the most pressing question is why it happened. In this case, reports say the pickup was trying to pass a slower-moving vehicle when it strayed into the path of an oncoming semi-truck. That raises concerns about whether the driver misjudged the maneuver, lost control or encountered some other issue that forced them into the wrong lane.
One possibility is that the pickup driver simply attempted to pass at the wrong time. On two-lane highways, passing requires careful judgment, and miscalculating the speed or distance of an oncoming vehicle can be deadly. Investigators should determine whether the driver had enough time and space to complete the pass safely, or whether they made a risky move that left no room for error.
Another factor worth examining is whether road conditions played a role. Was there poor visibility due to fog, rain, or glare? Did a curve or hill limit the driver’s ability to see oncoming traffic? If passing was unsafe due to road design or weather, that’s something authorities should take into account.
Mechanical issues also shouldn’t be ruled out. Did the pickup experience a steering failure, a tire blowout or some other malfunction that caused it to drift into the semi’s path? A full inspection of the vehicle should be conducted to rule out any contributing factors beyond driver error.
As for the semi-truck driver, reports indicate they tried to avoid the crash by moving to the right but still struck another truck in the process. That suggests they had very little time to react. Reviewing the truck’s black box data and any available dashcam footage could clarify how quickly the situation unfolded and whether the trucker had any realistic chance to avoid the collision.
At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to say exactly what went wrong. But what is clear is that passing on a two-lane road is one of the riskiest maneuvers a driver can make. If this was a case of misjudgment, distraction or a mechanical issue, understanding why the pickup veered into oncoming traffic is key to providing answers for a grieving family.
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