Construction worker killed on I-65 in northwest Indiana.
He suffered "massive blunt force trauma" and was pronounced dead at the scene. Holly V. Hays , holly.hays@indystar.com 6:46 p.m. EDT October 12, 2016
(Photo: Provided by Indiana State Police)
HOBART — Indiana State Police are investigating after a SUV lost control on I-65, striking and killing a construction worker.
Officers responded to a call just after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday one mile south of the Ridge Road exit in Lake County, according to a news release. Investigators believe a GMC driven by 23-year-old Jasmine Tirado, Merrillville, moved from the left lane and into the middle lane behind a semi, then moved right, hitting a construction barrel separating drivers from a construction zone.
The vehicle continued into the construction area, where it struck another barrel before hitting 35-year-old Brandon Fiscus, LaPorte, who was working for E&B Paving out of Anderson.
Fiscus was thrown into the SUV's windshield and then into a pickup truck owned by the construction company. He came to rest about 100 feet in front of the truck.
He suffered "massive blunt force trauma" and was pronounced dead at the scene.
All northbound lanes were closed until 11:50 a.m., when the left and middle lanes were reopened.Construction along this area of the interstate began in May, according to the release.
Unfortunately, the road construction workers are at high risk of death or injury due to reckless drivers like this one, 23-year-old Jasmine Tirado, Merrillville.
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A construction worker from LaPorte was killed Wednesday morning after a woman lost control of her vehicle in a construction zone on northbound Interstate 65.In a press release, Indiana State Police spokeswoman Sgt. Ann Wojas said a 23-year-old Merrillville woman was driving her 2013 GMC SUV approximately a mile south of the Ride Road exit on northbound I-65 around 9:35 a.m. when she moved from the left lane to middle lane and ended up behind a semitrailer. From behind the semitrailer, the woman moved to the right but ended up hitting a construction barrel separating the traffic from the construction, the release said.
Once she hit the barrel, the woman veered into the construction site and hit a second barrel, the force of which propelled the vehicle into a worker who was using a concrete saw to cut a joint for a pavement patch, Wojas said in the release. The man, identified as Brandon Fiscus, 35, hit the woman's windshield before hitting a parked pickup truck, the release said.
Fiscus landed approximately 100 feet from the pickup truck from the impact, Wojas said in the release. The Lake County Coroner's office pronounced him dead of massive blunt force trauma at the scene.
The woman has not been charged, Wojas said Wednesday afternoon.
The northbound lanes on I-65 were closed until approximately 11:50 a.m., Wojas said in the release.
The Hobart Fire Department, Hoosier Helpers and the Lake County Coroner's Office assisted.
