This morning, at approximately 3:25 a.m., Trooper William Carlson was dispatched to a vehicle that slid off the ramp from I-80/94 eastbound to Kennedy Avenue northbound into standing water. A passing motorist stated that all the occupants (3) of the car were running down the ramp towards a local hotel off Kennedy Avenue.
Trooper Carlson was told by a motorist who had stopped to check on the submerged car, that two of the occupants were hiding over the outside barrier wall in the high grass, Carlson and a Griffith police officer located a male and female hiding in the grass near the outside barrier wall on the ramp from Kennedy north to I-80/94 east.
The male, identified as Anthony Luis Salinas, 28 out of Hammond, Indiana was detained and later arrested by Hammond Police for multiple outstanding warrants (Operating While Intoxicated and Leaving the Scene through Hammond Police and Operating While Intoxicated through Lake County Sheriff’s Department).
A 20 year old female from East Chicago began convulsing and stopped breathing. Trooper Carlson began chest compressions and utilized other life saving measures provided by Griffith Police Officer Todd Dawes on her.
She regained consciousness and was placed in a rescue position until EMS arrived. She was transported to Munster Community Hospital.
Hammond Police Officer Matthew Zambala located the driver of the car in the bathroom of the local hotel.
He was identified as Gabriel Salinas, 38 out of Valparaiso, Indiana. Gabriel Salinas stated that he had driven over black ice on the ramp, lost control and went into the standing water.
Gabriel was found to be intoxicated and was arrested for OWI with a prior conviction (level 6 Felony), OWI Endangerment (Class A Misdemeanor), and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash (Class B Misdemeanor). He was taken to the Lake County Jail in Crown Point.
The ramp from northbound Kennedy to I-80 eastbound was partially closed for approximately 30 min.
Assisting on scene: Hammond PD, Griffith PD, Sgt. Dwayne Dillahunty, Trp. William Stancy, Hammond EMS and Fire, Waffco Towing.
